Bad state of walls due to damp, any advice on way forward

[platforminc]

View media item 61605

Hi All.

Please see attached picture of the state of the walls, it is due to current damp problems in the rear room due to a faulty rainwater downpipe.

We are looking to resolve this, however the existing plaster is well blown, flaking off and very very moist. Once the plaster is hacked off, are there any precautions that one should be taking ?

Are there any additives that should be mixed with the plaster ?

Can a humidifier be used in this room, if so what is the preparation, door/window needs to be opened ? How long etc

Thanks in advance.

 

[pinenot]

Nothing other than fixing the broken downpipe and regular maintenance to ensure it doesn't reoccur, need be done in my opinion.
I've been slaked off before for this advise by the herd of sheep that seem to pasture here but I advise if you use a hired industrial dehumidifier, set it up in the room, behind closed doors, but open a ventilation hopper or set window to vent position depending what kind of windows you have. There should be some information on the disclaimer/info papers you get with the unit, to this effect. make sure you empty the room of anything you don't want the moisture extracted out of...pinenot

 

[Joe Malone]

Nothing other than fixing the broken downpipe and regular maintenance to ensure it doesn't reoccur, need be done in my opinion.
I've been slaked off before for this advise by the herd of sheep that seem to pasture here but I advise if you use a hired industrial dehumidifier, set it up in the room, behind closed doors, but open a ventilation hopper or set window to vent position depending what kind of windows you have. There should be some information on the disclaimer/info papers you get with the unit, to this effect. make sure you empty the room of anything you don't want the moisture extracted out of...pinenot

I would never 'slake' you off Pinenot, your posts are amusing enough not to be taken seriously. I particularly enjoyed your latest suggestion to empty the room of anything the OP doesn't want the moisture extracting from. Can only assume you mean family pets, swimming pools, etc.

There is no point whatsoever in drying out plasterwork in that state. This is caused by chronic penetrating damp and the plaster is now defective and needs hacking off and replacing. Yes, get the down pipe repaired but understand that the masonry will be damp at depth and will take at least six months to dry out. You can speed up the dying process by hiring a snail fan and directing it at the wall and supporting this with a background dehumidifier but a dehumidifier alone will not dry out the wall within acceptable time fames for you to redecorate. If you choose to re plaster over the damp wall then simply choose a waterproof renovating plaster such as limelite. Pragmatically this may be your best option as you can reinstate decorative finishes sooner rather than later. Please ignore the advice from Pinenot, dehumidifiers are rendered useless when ran in the same room as an open vent or window.

 

[^woody^]

I've been slaked off before for this advise by the herd of sheep that seem to pasture here

You've just passed a degree in sustainability or some other obscure subject, and have become an expert in dampness?

You seem to know nowt about building too. I would seriously ask for a refund

 

[pinenot]

Don't you ever get fed up bleating the way you do you do

 

[platforminc]

Nothing other than fixing the broken downpipe and regular maintenance to ensure it doesn't reoccur, need be done in my opinion.
I've been slaked off before for this advise by the herd of sheep that seem to pasture here but I advise if you use a hired industrial dehumidifier, set it up in the room, behind closed doors, but open a ventilation hopper or set window to vent position depending what kind of windows you have. There should be some information on the disclaimer/info papers you get with the unit, to this effect. make sure you empty the room of anything you don't want the moisture extracted out of...pinenot

I would never 'slake' you off Pinenot, your posts are amusing enough not to be taken seriously. I particularly enjoyed your latest suggestion to empty the room of anything the OP doesn't want the moisture extracting from. Can only assume you mean family pets, swimming pools, etc.

There is no point whatsoever in drying out plasterwork in that state. This is caused by chronic penetrating damp and the plaster is now defective and needs hacking off and replacing. Yes, get the down pipe repaired but understand that the masonry will be damp at depth and will take at least six months to dry out. You can speed up the dying process by hiring a snail fan and directing it at the wall and supporting this with a background dehumidifier but a dehumidifier alone will not dry out the wall within acceptable time fames for you to redecorate. If you choose to re plaster over the damp wall then simply choose a waterproof renovating plaster such as limelite. Pragmatically this may be your best option as you can reinstate decorative finishes sooner rather than later. Please ignore the advice from Pinenot, dehumidifiers are rendered useless when ran in the same room as an open vent or window.

Just an update guys, the place is being rewired and the floorboards are exposed. The upper by the rain water roof collector fixed last saturday. However I now need to know if there is still water ingress or not. I will be pushing for the defective blown out plaster to be hacked off so that the brick can be exposed and the drying out process fast tracked.

I now have a dehumidifier with me, but with the electrical ongoing and floorboards exposed, is it a good idea to turn on the dehumidifier. Also how long should they be left running for ? I also have a damp meter and when I measured yesterday night, it was reading 33%.

I would take that reading with a pinch of salt as not all of the plaster was hacked off, and reading blown out plaster is a waste of time, this was 11pm last night so I couldnt start hacking it off.

With the limelite recomended, I am yet to find a local supplier for it. Are there any other alternatives apart from this ? I have heard about Bitumen, but not 100% sure.

I look forward to hearing from you. Also with the bathroom, is it a good idea to wait for entire floor to be taken out in the bathroom before using dehumidifier, as nothing can be salvaged at the moment.


Many thanks.

 

[pinenot]

I would never 'slake' you off Pinenot, your posts are amusing enough not to be taken seriously. I particularly enjoyed your latest suggestion to empty the room of anything the OP doesn't want the moisture extracting from. Can only assume you mean family pets, swimming pools, etc.

There is no point whatsoever in drying out plasterwork in that state. This is caused by chronic penetrating damp and the plaster is now defective and needs hacking off and replacing. Yes, get the down pipe repaired but understand that the masonry will be damp at depth and will take at least six months to dry out. You can speed up the dying process by hiring a snail fan and directing it at the wall and supporting this with a background dehumidifier but a dehumidifier alone will not dry out the wall within acceptable time fames for you to redecorate. If you choose to re plaster over the damp wall then simply choose a waterproof renovating plaster such as limelite. Pragmatically this may be your best option as you can reinstate decorative finishes sooner rather than later. Please ignore the advice from Pinenot, dehumidifiers are rendered useless when ran in the same room as an open vent or window.[/quote]

When did I ever suggest drying out the original plaster?? It was always assumed from the original post that this was to be hacked out. Leaving that aside are you so condescending as to think any other items in the room will be unaffected by removing moisture, a fool and his money I... don't know.
Using anything that's waterproof on these walls is utter folly, that will delay the drying out process, which is the last thing that's needed, allow the walls to breath.
Do not take this man serieously, it seems he simply likes to hear his own voice or something...pinenot

 

[Graeme1983]

Ive found pinenot's posts, especially on lime or old house stuff as I dont really read about other building works which dont concern me to be on the money and backed up by a few other sources.

 

[Nige F]

[
I would never 'slake' you off Pinenot, .

Interesting - to slake is to add water to something dry ( eg. slaked lime ) as some kinda linguist , I find that amusing

 

[Graeme1983]

[
I would never 'slake' you off Pinenot, .

Interesting - to slake is to add water to something dry ( eg. slaked lime ) as some kinda linguist , I find that amusing

I enjoyed that one as well. Some sort of lime parlance.

 

[Joe Malone]

When did I ever suggest drying out the original plaster?? It was always assumed from the original post that this was to be hacked out. Leaving that aside are you so condescending as to think any other items in the room will be unaffected by removing moisture, a fool and his money I... don't know.
Using anything that's waterproof on these walls is utter folly, that will delay the drying out process, which is the last thing that's needed, allow the walls to breath.
Do not take this man serieously, it seems he simply likes to hear his own voice or something...pinenot[/quote]

When did I ever suggest that you suggested that the original plaster should be dried out?
I know you won't answer this because you have failed to answer anything that I've asked but please give examples of what this particular OP might like to remove from the room to protect it from having the 'moisture extracted.'? Of course there's no chance of anything being dried out anyway because you insist that a dehumidifier is capable of drying out the whole of the UK as well as the room it's placed in.
You seem to live in an unrealistic world where clients are happy to have bare brick walls for six months. Very few are and pragmatically a renovating plaster is the only solution to achieving a dry wall surface. Yes, it's best to leave the wall bare to dry out but that's akin to stating the bleedin obvious! A little knowledge is a dangerous thing is a fitting tribute to your posts.

 

[Joe Malone]

Ive found pinenot's posts, especially on lime or old house stuff as I dont really read about other building works which dont concern me to be on the money and backed up by a few other sources.

Pinenots last words of wisdom on lime plaster were to suggest that hydraulic lime dries under water!
Which particular source backs up that crack pot idea?

 

[Graeme1983]

Ive found pinenot's posts, especially on lime or old house stuff as I dont really read about other building works which dont concern me to be on the money and backed up by a few other sources.

Pinenots last words of wisdom on lime plaster were to suggest that hydraulic lime dries under water!
Which particular source backs up that crack pot idea?

Julius Caesar probably. Did he(pinenot) not says it sets underwater? Used in aqueducts, sewers and mills wasnt it? NHL?

 

[Joe Malone]

Ive found pinenot's posts, especially on lime or old house stuff as I dont really read about other building works which dont concern me to be on the money and backed up by a few other sources.

Pinenots last words of wisdom on lime plaster were to suggest that hydraulic lime dries under water!
Which particular source backs up that crack pot idea?

Julius Caesar probably. Did he(pinenot) not says it sets underwater? Used in aqueducts, sewers and mills wasnt it? NHL?

He got both points wrong with regard to the set of hydraulic and non hydraulic lime. Suggesting one sets in air whilst the other sets in water. The clear suggestion being that hydraulic lime needs to be in water to set. That it can set it water is because it contains Pozzolans that give it a chemical set. You're defending the indefensible and whilst we can all occasionally chuckle at some of his comments some of them are dangerous to those that don't know better.

 

[pinenot]

All hydraulic limes set under water to an extent, in fact there classification is determined by to what extent they set under water. How do you think all the bridges, aqueducts, canal locks and a huge plethora of other constructions were achieved. You seem destined to be held up to ridicule with your, what can only be described as...your belligerence and quite possibly jealousy or something like that, how else can it be described?

Web definitions
"Hydraulic lime is a variety of lime, a slaked lime used to make lime mortar. Hydraulicity is the ability of lime to set under water....
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_lime"
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/hydraulic/hydraulic.htm
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/hydraulic/hydraulic.htm...DO YOU WANT ME TO GO ON???