Damp Proofing Work

MoneySavingSpender

One of our bedrooms has black algae of some kind growing on the walls and window sills, had a couple of quotes now to damp deal the room ranging from £2500 to nearly £4000.

My main concern is if I can get it cheaper, if electrics/wiring needs to be redone at all and how to go about the best way of scheduling the work and then redecoration...

Any useful advice appreciated.

Thanks.

stan747

can you find the source, is there any broken tiles/slates or damaged guttering? damaged seal around a window. we had a little in the house when we moved in due to some bad pointing, stripped off the paper and sealed it with ronseal dampseal the re-papered.
been ok since.

Thomas_Crown

The black growth on wallpaper & round windows is often caused by condensation & not penetrating damp. Have you considered using a dehumidifier to help ease the condensation problem?

MoneySavingSpender

stan747 wrote: »

can you find the source, is there any broken tiles/slates or damaged guttering? damaged seal around a window. we had a little in the house when we moved in due to some bad pointing, stripped off the paper and sealed it with ronseal dampseal the re-papered.
been ok since.

I did look, I could not find anything obvious like that, but then I have kind of swallowed what the damp proofers have told me that they need to strrip the entire room down to brick and seal it.

I've yet to hand over a penny though or agree to any work, yet.

There is an ebac humidifier in there right now but it just gets full very quickly and doesn't help an awful lot.

PS: House was bought in 2000 and the surveyors report for back then has no mention of this at all which I find annoying, its also damaged significant wallpaper work in the room and has clumps of black stuff on the window sills.

MoneySavingSpender

I've looked at other options such as stripping the place down including plaster, putting on products on ronseal damp proofing and just replastering but the work needs t last and be guaranteed really.

My main concerns now is whether the electrical socket/lighting/sat/free cabling needs to be removed or if it can be left there.

Any comments welcome.

MoneySavingSpender

Another quote today, they didn't suggest complete brickwork sealing as necessary and recommended just some venting bricks with a device to prevent cold air coming in,

Does anyone have any experience with these?
.

Middlers

We had similar problems when we moved in. Our problem was no cavity. The whole house was wallpapered which perpetuated the problem. We stripped all wallpaper off and just painted instead. We also had vents fitted to the windows to improve circulation. Also sorted out the insulation in the roof space - was some missing in the eaves. Problem now solved.

MoneySavingSpender

Middlers wrote: »

We had similar problems when we moved in. Our problem was no cavity. The whole house was wallpapered which perpetuated the problem. We stripped all wallpaper off and just painted instead. We also had vents fitted to the windows to improve circulation. Also sorted out the insulation in the roof space - was some missing in the eaves. Problem now solved.

This seems to be correct with regard to my problem.

Although the differing opinions etc are amusing.

1. Damp seal the entire room on tpo of the brick layer, requiring replasternig and redecorating

2. Install a couple of vent bricks with one way cold air devices to increase circulation

3. Redecorate and put polystyrene on the walls to increase the temperature of the wall for when any moisture hits the walls there to reduce condensation.

I prefer solutions two and three, as I think the wallpaper is exacerbating the problem, possibly using ronseal or similar solution if that can be applied at plaster level.and doing this means only a few weeks the room being out of commission.

I'll be getting redecoration costs this weekend hopefully.

bow1508

we have the same problem. Had these moisture traps all over the place but the cat keep knocking them over and the slush in them ruins everything. I've been told air bricks but wont that leave a massive draft and I can't afford heat to go out the walls too. Have been looking into a dehumidifier but have no idea how expensive they are to run, anyone got one? I do leave the top windows open a crack on the locks in some rooms and we open the bathroom window after a shower but today found mould in the kitchen cupboard where it backs onto an outside wall. We have no wallpaper anywhere now. What with that and the black pathces on my bedroom ceiling am not happy today! think the soffits and fashias need replacing but it costs more than I can afford. Drives you nuts doesn't it!