spots/mould on the solid wall!

Jellynailer

sujsuj said:

Also, the brick color is slightly different—the right side is darker—because the section just to the left of the gutter pipe is a newer build, about 20 years old. Thanks!

You have also messaged previously that the wall near the bedroom is not wet.  It certainly does not look wet.  

It has been suggested that there may be issues with your roof.  If my family lived nearer to me, I would have got my grandson over to check my roof after I suffered rain penetration because I bought him a drone for his birthday for less than £40 = much cheaper than a roofer.  I am sure your teenager would be delighted if you follow up on my thought on how you can save money but get an answer to suggestions by others on this thread. 

Regardless of comments, I would still like to see the photos of the inside of your room.  My son is a senior exec in a FTSE 200 property company with loads of experts who can give good advice.

stuart45

ThisIsWeird said:

stuart45 said:

sujsuj said:

Also, the brick color is slightly different—the right side is darker—because the section just to the left of the gutter pipe is a newer build, about 20 years old. Thanks!

Is the extension cavity wall masonry?

I was assuming it would be, in which case, sujsuj, you wouldn't expect the same issue in these newer rooms, even under the same wet conditions.
To dry the affected room, simplest and cheapest method is to ventilate ventilate ventiwhatsit. Open the windows as far as you can, without letting rain in!
You could turn the heating up, but unless you also ventilate, the moisture will stay suspended in the air. If you heat and ventilate, you waste energy. Just ventilate, or use a dehumidifier. I'd personally just ventilate. 

You would expect a 20 year old extension to be a cavity wall, although you can never be sure, especially in rural areas. It's quite common where I live for people to build extensions without permission, and farmers building bungalows for their kids.

FreeBear

sujsuj said: The gutter repairs have been completed, and I treated the wall with a bit of vinegar, which made all the spots disappear. I'm planning to maintain air circulation in that area and will continue to monitor it. Thanks again!

Just be aware that vinegar is a mild acid and can etch in to plaster. Hydrogen peroxide (4-5% solution) is said to be an effective treatment, although I've never tried it myself. I have used diluted bleach to kill & remove black mould in the past.

A couple of suggestions based on the photos you've posted - Some of the brickwork around the top of the downpipe could do with repointing (preferably with a lime mortar). Getting a bit late in the year to do that, so perhaps pencil it in for spring next year.

The little shed thing really needs some lead flashing between the tiles & wall, and a bit of guttering wouldn't go amiss.

sujsuj

FreeBear said:

sujsuj said: The gutter repairs have been completed, and I treated the wall with a bit of vinegar, which made all the spots disappear. I'm planning to maintain air circulation in that area and will continue to monitor it. Thanks again!

Just be aware that vinegar is a mild acid and can etch in to plaster. Hydrogen peroxide (4-5% solution) is said to be an effective treatment, although I've never tried it myself. I have used diluted bleach to kill & remove black mould in the past.

A couple of suggestions based on the photos you've posted - Some of the brickwork around the top of the downpipe could do with repointing (preferably with a lime mortar). Getting a bit late in the year to do that, so perhaps pencil it in for spring next year.

The little shed thing really needs some lead flashing between the tiles & wall, and a bit of guttering wouldn't go amiss.

Yes, thanks. Repointing is planned for sometime, maybe next summer, as doing it in winter might be difficult. I also need to find the right mix, likely lime-based.

Any idea what the purpose of that shed-like structure is? I can see it had doors before, and if I knew its original purpose, I could look into fixing a door for that part. Thanks!

EssexHebridean

I'd guess at either a wood shed or a coal cupboard, allowing for the age of the house? Although possibly a bit small for either, having looked more closely...

An outdoor toilet for the children of the house, maybe?!  

sujsuj

stuart45 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

stuart45 said:

sujsuj said:

Also, the brick color is slightly different—the right side is darker—because the section just to the left of the gutter pipe is a newer build, about 20 years old. Thanks!

Is the extension cavity wall masonry?

I was assuming it would be, in which case, sujsuj, you wouldn't expect the same issue in these newer rooms, even under the same wet conditions.
To dry the affected room, simplest and cheapest method is to ventilate ventilate ventiwhatsit. Open the windows as far as you can, without letting rain in!
You could turn the heating up, but unless you also ventilate, the moisture will stay suspended in the air. If you heat and ventilate, you waste energy. Just ventilate, or use a dehumidifier. I'd personally just ventilate. 

You would expect a 20 year old extension to be a cavity wall, although you can never be sure, especially in rural areas. It's quite common where I live for people to build extensions without permission, and farmers building bungalows for their kids.

This is what I can see from inside under sink. This is just inside big bush you see in the photo (you can see waste pipe). So I suppose this is part of cavity insulation done previously.

sujsuj

Jellynailer said:

sujsuj said:

Also, the brick color is slightly different—the right side is darker—because the section just to the left of the gutter pipe is a newer build, about 20 years old. Thanks!

You have also messaged previously that the wall near the bedroom is not wet.  It certainly does not look wet.  

It has been suggested that there may be issues with your roof.  If my family lived nearer to me, I would have got my grandson over to check my roof after I suffered rain penetration because I bought him a drone for his birthday for less than £40 = much cheaper than a roofer.  I am sure your teenager would be delighted if you follow up on my thought on how you can save money but get an answer to suggestions by others on this thread. 

Regardless of comments, I would still like to see the photos of the inside of your room.  My son is a senior exec in a FTSE 200 property company with loads of experts who can give good advice.

I checked loft to see any water seepage from roof. Can't see anything. I will check again to rule out that. Thanks.

sujsuj

ThisIsWeird said:

stuart45 said:

sujsuj said:

Also, the brick color is slightly different—the right side is darker—because the section just to the left of the gutter pipe is a newer build, about 20 years old. Thanks!

Is the extension cavity wall masonry?

I was assuming it would be, in which case, sujsuj, you wouldn't expect the same issue in these newer rooms, even under the same wet conditions.
To dry the affected room, simplest and cheapest method is to ventilate ventilate ventiwhatsit. Open the windows as far as you can, without letting rain in!
You could turn the heating up, but unless you also ventilate, the moisture will stay suspended in the air. If you heat and ventilate, you waste energy. Just ventilate, or use a dehumidifier. I'd personally just ventilate. 

I am seriously considering dehumidifier..I  wasn't sure it it will cause any health issues..?

EssexHebridean

We regularly used a dehumidifier in our old flat which periodically had some issues with damp partly thanks to an "unorthodox" construction - very effective, helps with providing a bit of additional warmth which can also be effective in reducing the problems too.

FreeBear

sujsuj said: Any idea what the purpose of that shed-like structure is? I can see it had doors before, and if I knew its original purpose, I could look into fixing a door for that part.

Like EssexHebridean, I suspect it might have been for storing coal or wood. It appears to be built directly on top of a pair of utility slabs, so no foundations or DPC. There is a risk that it could be breaching the DPC of the main house - Combined with the lack of flashing, I'd give serious thought to removing it.