Damp proofing window pillar.

[D4dog]

I have serious damp on brick window pillar. Having hacked off the render (clearly been bodged - mix of sand/cement on top of plaster finish in places!), clear that significant damp coming through from external wall. This is the original part of the house, and I believe it has solid walls, or only a very small cavity - about 2 feet thick. However, pillars are clearly not thick enough to hold back damp. The lintels form a cavity from the top of the window lintels on up - a recent addition I think.

Looking at the brickwork, this doesn't look like cavity closing - the bricks extend into the external wall.

I need to stop the damp before I replace the windows. It is only on the pillars, not the internal window reveals. Options are:

Support internal lintels, cut out internal pillars back to external wall, rebuild pillars with insulation filled cavity, normal cavity closers (big job);

Cut a slot flush with the external wall once the windows are out, insert 100mm damp proof membrane - tank internal face of pillar and key for re-render - easier job, but could simply move problem elsewhere

!

Any thing else anyone can come up with?

Thanks

 

[vinn]

If you posted some photos of the outside from both angles and a view of the whole elevation it might help. So would a "stepped back"photo of the interior showing the frames and pillar(s) in question.