Rising damp

[JohnD]

Just to check

The damp is round the toilet, and nowhere else.

Can you think of anything other than a leak that would fit this description?

Post some photos please.

 

[ree]

John D,
No no - the idea is that all the outside walls are plaster stripped to 1m , skirtings replaced and injections with silicone on both sides of the walls.
Jobs a good'un, and the OP deserves no less.

 

[Koolpc]

No, dont get companies in who do the work. Get an independent damp specialist in only if you cannot find the source yourself.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

OP,
You really need the Damp companies out there as soon as possible.
A thorough, full house damp survey will do your problems no end of good.

I seriously doubt that. The only good it will do, is to line the pocket of the company doing the survey. Idiot response.

 

[foxhole]

John D,
No no - the idea is that all the outside walls are plaster stripped to 1m , skirtings replaced and injections with silicone on both sides of the walls.
Jobs a good'un, and the OP deserves no less.

Can’t think of a worst solution .

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Can’t think of a worst solution .

The guy is a first-rate idiot.

 

[JohnD]

John D,
No no - the idea is that all the outside walls are plaster stripped to 1m , skirtings replaced and injections with silicone on both sides of the walls.
Jobs a good'un, and the OP deserves no less.

The house had silicone injections before. They obviously didn't repair the fault causing the damp, and it's still there.

Injections do not repair leaks or other building faults.

 

[Odds]

If it isn't a pipe leak or bad plaster; could it be a roof leak or cracked mortar leading to capillary action bringing water down the inner wall causing damp ?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If it isn't a pipe leak or bad plaster; could it be a roof leak or cracked mortar leading to capillary action bringing water down the inner wall causing damp ?

No, there is no damp at all on the inner leaf of the wall, which is where it would show first. The only place it shows, is on this short stub, of internal brick wall, in a line for around 3" above the skirting, at each side. It starts several inches in, from where it meets the internal wall. All of which, suggests it is coming up through the floor.

 

[JohnD]

If there was a drain leak (clay pipes are frequently cracked or broken) IME it is most likely where the pipe connected to the house meets the pipe in the ground, and they move differently, perhaps due to settlement, perhaps due to wartime bombing. It may be a socket or a bend. Water pipes can also leak after 50 years or so, and if buried will not be visible. A WC has both pipes and drains.

So it might be just inside or just outside.

It is usually less disruptive to start by digging a hole just outside, and looking for signs of water or other detritus.

Are you able to dig or drill a hole and take a look?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If there was a drain leak (clay pipes are frequently cracked or broken) IME it is most likely where the pipe connected to the house meets the pipe in the ground, and they move differently, perhaps due to settlement, perhaps due to wartime bombing.

No bombing for many miles around here, the toilet, drains and manhole were all newly installed in the mid 80's. My guess is that if it were such a drain leak, that the damp would be much more widespread, than it is.

 

[JohnD]

My guess

Dig a hole and have a look.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Is the water supply pipe in the vicinity? It may be a leak, or just condensation that's gathering on it and wicking into the wall

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is the water supply pipe in the vicinity? It may be a leak, or just condensation that's gathering on it and wicking into the wall

All pipes are surface, just a toilet cistern mounted on the wall, above the damp area, but the wall directly below is perfectly dry.

 

[Koolpc]

All pipes are surface, just a toilet cistern mounted on the wall, above the damp area, but the wall directly below is perfectly dry.

You need to perfect your aim then when having a pee! Lol