Damp patches on interior walls after heavy rain

Nick_h_mcr

Hi fellow forumites!

I'm getting damp patches appearing on interior walls after heavy rain. I'm really just after advice on the correct professional to call to help me identify the issue. I've read a number of posts where advice has been given on 'DIY'ing' the diagnosis. But, as a relatively new first-time home owner, I really don't feel very confident doing this myself. 

If it helps, I have spotted patches in 3 rooms (all top corner of the wall and not near doors/windows). I have checked the loft, and there is no sign of damp, suggesting it's not an issue with the roof. 

I do have a gutter that spills water all over the driveway, but this is only one side of the house, and the runoff is away from the building (so I wouldn't have thought that this is contributing).

Thanks in advance for any help!

FreeBear

Nick_h_mcr said: I do have a gutter that spills water all over the driveway, but this is only one side of the house, and the runoff is away from the building (so I wouldn't have thought that this is contributing).

A good chance that water is being blown back on to the wall - You need to get the downpipes checked for blockages and get them fixed before winter really kicks in. A general purpose handyman may be able to fix the problem for you. Failing that, a local roofer.

Just don't go for one of the PCA damp proofing outfits - They'll probably diagnose rising damp and want to sell you chemical injected DPC along with all the other (dubious) treatments that they peddle.

Nick_h_mcr

Thanks @FreeBear i've called a local gutter specialist to come and take a look. Hopefully this nails it!

stuart45

Do you have solid or cavity walls? 
You can get problems at the tops of the walls when the felt goes at the eaves.

35har1old

Nick_h_mcr said:

Hi fellow forumites!

I'm getting damp patches appearing on interior walls after heavy rain. I'm really just after advice on the correct professional to call to help me identify the issue. I've read a number of posts where advice has been given on 'DIY'ing' the diagnosis. But, as a relatively new first-time home owner, I really don't feel very confident doing this myself. 

If it helps, I have spotted patches in 3 rooms (all top corner of the wall and not near doors/windows). I have checked the loft, and there is no sign of damp, suggesting it's not an issue with the roof. 

I do have a gutter that spills water all over the driveway, but this is only one side of the house, and the runoff is away from the building (so I wouldn't have thought that this is contributing).

Thanks in advance for any help!

It could be dirty wall tyes transmitting damp across the cavity 

Ksw3

Do you have a chimney?

ThisIsWeird

Nick_h_mcr said:

Thanks @FreeBear i've called a local gutter specialist to come and take a look. Hopefully this nails it!

Good first move.
If a gutter overflows 'forwards', it can/will also do so backwards. This can sometimes be enough to spill on to the top of the wall and run through to the inside.
Ask the person to also check for signs or possibilities of this.

It happened to me, when a gutter outlet blocked, and a heavy downpour had the water gushing over the gutter. This was on a single-skinned room, and stains appeared - just that once - on the inside. 

Nick_h_mcr

stuart45 said:

Do you have solid or cavity walls? 
You can get problems at the tops of the walls when the felt goes at the eaves.

Cavity walls

(update: after diagnosing slipped ridge tiles, my gutter man has said he can't do the work until NY. Now looking at other options)

Nick_h_mcr

Ksw3 said:

Do you have a chimney?

Yes, 2 in fact

Nick_h_mcr

stuart45 said:

Do you have solid or cavity walls? 
You can get problems at the tops of the walls when the felt goes at the eaves.

@stuart45 do you know anything about repairing such problems? I'm phoning a few roofers and one of them mentioned felt based on my brief description of the problem. He then casually said i'm looking at a new roof at ~12k, which has left me feeling a little sick, frankly.

ThisIsWeird

Post some photos of your roof, Nick? And age of property?
If you are having repeated slipping tiles, then fair chance your roof is getting close to the end of its life, but you can almost always delay the 'inevitable' for years.