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Just to stop it from getting any worse, in case my circumstances change regarding the extension. The steps don't come up as far as the DPC. The slate is in line with (or even slightly above) the kitchen floor level, which is solid concrete, so no joists to worry about. The upper half of the...

Thanks guys. I had an independent damp surveyor here yesterday, and was quite surprised how he recommended to just remove the plaster from the affected walls and line with a studded DPM, dry line, and replaster. That seems to be covering up the problem rather than fixing it o_O I had the...

Thanks folks. I think I'll look for all the problem areas where there's no mortar and patch up with a lime mortar as suggested. The extension involves knocking down all of the problem walls, so all will be fine when I get around to having that done.

My old 1880s victorian terrace has the usual rear addition kitchen with bathroom above. The London stock bricks have been painted about halfway up the wall by previous owners. They used a non-breathable paint, so the solid walls are cold and damp. Plaster work inside has blown and the kitchen...

Thanks. I definitely felt some sort of base (concrete or stone?) in the hearth when I hammered a pole into it though... Does that change your recommendation to dig out? I'm worried I'll be trapping moisture in the soil which will keep seeping into the brickwork. Relative humidity is still about...

Thanks for all the great advice! I will probably have the opening below the bar, as long as that gives enough height for a burner. I had a reasonable quote from a fireplace installer who said he would also do the building work, though I may still have a go myself. What worries me is that the...

Thanks. Does the black stuff look familiar to you? It looks like it may be some sort of concrete lintel. I was hoping it was just something on the back of the old brick arch to hold it together, but I can't see how there would be enough depth for the bricks to be there. Think I'll have to just...

Thanks for the advice, r896neo! I've knocked part of the fireplace through, but am getting a bit nervous about the lintel/brick arch situation. I can see this L-shaped strip of metalwork, but surely that's not supporting it? Is it likely there's a brick arch in front of that concrete stuff...

There's a concrete path. As the house used to be a mid terrace before WW2, the wall is my boundary with the house next door, so the path belongs to my neighbour. The whole wall is cement rendered right down to the ground, and some idiots have injected DPC through the render. Theres a plinth...

Thanks. You're right - the ground level is about a metre under the subfloor. Should I dig out all this damp soil and see what's underneath? It seems to just be packed earth rather than rubble or concrete. Air bricks are fine. I'm hoping the dampness is just water coming down the chimney or...

In my 1880 Victorian End of Terrace, the relative humidity in my front living room is staying around 75%. Not good. Part of the problem seems to be water ingress through the external flank wall (which used to be joining onto a house next door bombed in WW2). I'm hoping to cure that by having...