Rising damp?

NornIronRose

Had an extension done about 5 years ago. Just noticed a few weeks ago that the paint on what would have originally been the external wall of the property, has paint peeling about 6 inches up from the floor. this is on 2 areas, about 1-2 meters in length. Definitely nothing before now. 

Is this rising damp? Is there anything easy that I can try?

shiraz99

Pictures please if you can post them, both inside and exterior?

I wont go into too much detail as it's been discussed many times here, but rising damp is largely a myth. What you'll likely have is water ingress from somewhere, gutters, downpipe, brickwork in need of pointing etc. You need to discover the source if this. There's also a likelihood of condensation build up due to a lack of ventilation in the area. It could also be effervescence from the new brickwork and once the salts appear on the inside they'll just attract moisture. 

NornIronRose

There is no external wall. It used to be an external wall but is now an internal load bearing wall. 
So there is no possibility of it coming from an external source, such as a leaky gutter or inadequate pointing

It also isn't new brickwork as it is the original back wall. 
There is a possibility that it could be internal condensation, but I would expect to see that on the inside of an external wall. It's a fairly dry area with lots of ventilation. 

Will figure out how to upload a picture tomorrow. 

stuart45

Has any of the wall be knocked away for a larger opening etc.?

Mr.Generous

It sounds very much like rising damp. damp course has been damaged or bridged.

FreeBear

How old is the original part of the property ?

Bendy_House

New extension wall is solid, and DPM taken up that previously-exrernal wall, and not cut in. So damp 'sealed' under the new floor now rising up between the vertical DPM and old ext wall?

Pure speculation, of course.

The appearance of this damp will hopefully help, with 'rising' often having a defined edge, and cond being more irregular and indefined. 

stuart45

Diagnosing damp is often speculation, but that's not a bad one. It used to be normal practice on site to cut the DPM flush between the slab and inner skin before laying out the DPC. This was said to cause damp in that area. BRE used to recommend 3 coats of Synthaprufe to stop this.

NornIronRose

This is where the damp is. Haven't found any more. As you can see, a lot of the back wall was cut away. 
The original house was built in 1930. At the other side of the room with the other end of the wall, there is no sign of damp. 
No mould. I know it looks like mould in the pictures, but it is just brown plaster underneath where the paint has crumbled off. Strange that there has been nothing in the last few years since the extension was built. 

Apodemus

What is going on up the right hand side of the door?  It looks like a trail of brownish damp-staining down the wall?  And that scuff mark on the paint on the door surround - what has caused that?  Have you had a piece of furniture against this wall?

shiraz99

Do you have any pipework running from, for example your boiler, in the vicinity of that area an what is there directly above the doorway?