Rising damp in our livingroom wall

[wizardsaleem]

Hi all,

Could I have your suggestions as to what's causing the dampness, please?

A year ago, I had the outer side wall in the alleyway of my house rendered , but during the course of the past 4 months or so we have been noticing dampness rising fron the base on the inside of that wall in our living room which I find very puzzling.
And it’s despite the fact that the wall rendering was diligently separated from the ground by 12 inches with the institution of a proprietary damp stopping metal strip. I should be very grateful for your help.

Regards.

 

[joe-90]

I can only guess, but my first thoughts are that the render was made waterproof with an additive or too strong a mix. Then the damp which would have normally evaporated in the air is locked into the wall and showing up as dampness in the house. Maybe others might have a better idea.

 

[roy c]

I personally would not put any faith in a "proprietary damp stopping metal strip" I would get a reputable builder to check out the work done and also did you get a gaurnatee on damp-proofing method you had done?

 

[Micilin]

Sounds like that Strip is a common or garden drip / stop bead?

 

[dave1953]

or bell cast

 

[wizardsaleem]

Thank you ALL for your inputs.
I now have an instinct that too strong a mixture, as suggested be Joe , might be causing the problem. However , as rest of you have advised I would certainly get a reputable builder to check over the work and the damp proofing method used. Thanks you once again---its much appreciated.

Regards,
Wizardsaleem

 

[trowelmonkey1]

am i correct in thinking the render holding moisture in would only be a relevant problem if the walls are not cavity and solid?

 

[JohnD]

also consider the more common causes of damp in buildings:

look for a dripping gutter or leaking pipe or radiator above the damp patch, or a path or flowerbed against the wall above the DPC

do you hang wet washing about the house or do any of the other things?

//www.diynot.com/wiki/building:condensation_in_houses

if you tape a piece of clear plastic tightly to the inside of the wall, see if water forms as mist or beads on the wall side (or the room side) of the plastic.

@trowelmonkey1, cavities can be bridged, usually by mortar on wall ties (shows as spots of damp where the ties are) or full of rubble and muck at the bottom (shows as a damp line above the dpc). This is much less common now that walls are built with the insulation board inside that prevents much mortar falling down the cavity.

 

[trowelmonkey1]

thx JD

 

[JohnD]

 

[joe-90]

am i correct in thinking the render holding moisture in would only be a relevant problem if the walls are not cavity and solid?

I read it that the problem only arose after the wall was rendered so assumed it was solid.