Can faulty coping stones cause major internal damp

[datarebal]

Trays should exist on a cavity wall like this one appears to be . Not just over windows and doors .
Pointing around the railings won't help slot as the metal will expand and contract.
On the inner skin mitred corner is a cut brick joint vertically water could get in there .
Assuming , the grp roof is intact then the water will be going through the brickworks

 

[Maggie May]

Thank you . I have been asking flat roof specialists to quote . Sounds like this is a job for a builder. Excuse my ignorance , and perhaps overstepping the mark in terms of advice here, but what would be your next step? How much should I expect to pay roughly? How long would it take to dry out inside before I know it has worked and I can paint ready to sell. Need to downsize at end of year. Thanks so much to you both again

 

[Maggie May]

By the way , I have no desire to try to do it myself from u tube. Tradespeople are deserving of payment for their special field of expertise … it’s just finding the right person that is the difficulty for a retired lady with no knowledge.

 

[Charlie George]

Above windows/doors there should have been a cavity tray fitted, although lots of houses have none and no problems.

On u-tube you can see them being reinstalled, it's a bit of a faff.

There is cavity weep vents visible above the windows, no guarantee they were installed correctly.

 

[Maggie May]

Does this site allow for recommendations for tradespeople to help fix this problem along the lines discussed in this thread? I live in Staffordshire

 

[datarebal]

There is cavity weep vents visible above the windows, no guarantee they were installed correctly.

Outside wall ..nothing showing internally above the grp flashing trim

 

[Maggie May]

Outside wall ..nothing showing internally above the grp flashing trim

Trays should exist on a cavity wall like this one appears to be . Not just over windows and doors .
Pointing around the railings won't help slot as the metal will expand and contract.
On the inner skin mitred corner is a cut brick joint vertically water could get in there .
Assuming , the grp roof is intact then the water will be going through the brickworks

Ok … so it appears I need a builder to check if there is a DPM within the balcony wall, deal with mortar issues , especially at mitred internal corner, Check condition of vents in brickwork and possibly replace coping stones to allow more overhang . Remove railing to check how they are fitted within brickwork. Is that correct chaps?

 

[Maggie May]

Are trays the same as a DPM ?? Sorry if my ignorance is irritating

 

[Maggie May]

This has been an eye opener as without this advice I was about to have spent up to £9000 stripping out a balcony floor , etc. The roofers did not give any credibility to the notion it could be to do with the wall and coping

 

[Maggie May]

For completeness , if anyone is still reading this , after a little rain last night this is the typical pooling that now occurs on the part of the balcony floor over the damp ceiling area below . No visible damage to surface covering but slight lifting if you push it down compared to rest of balcony. I have sent out a request for a builder via the internet. Any further feedback to help me at this stage gratefully received .

 

[Mr Chibs]

Reason I mentioned u-tube earlier, so you could see the process, and see what is involved... wasn't meaning you to do the job.

Try some of these, you'll have an idea on problem and what's involved to fix it
Cavity Trays

Yes you can get pooling on flat roofs.

 

[Maggie May]

Thanks Mr Chibs. Put out a request for a builder yesterday with details if the job, but as yet no response , other than one declining invitation to quote . Everyone is so busy .

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Everyone is so busy .

Another Brexit benefit? There is a major shortage if skilled trades in the UK and we simply aren't training enough people because everyone wants to go to university...

 

[Maggie May]

Couldn’t agree more!

Are these jobs that have been thought to be necessary to sort out this issue for me the type of work needing skilled builder, or could a reliable ‘jack of all trades’ do a good job if it?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

My limited experience of dealing with this sort of thing has been on a mixture of new commercial buildings and mill conversions. The guys who seemed to know best how to deal with leaks were the membrane/felt installers, but even they didn't have a grip on the brickwork/coping stone side of things which requires a brickie who has dealt with coping stones. Getting a solution sometimes required input from a brickie, a roofer, a joiner and a felter. I have my doubts that a general handyman/jack of all trades would know where to start.

BTW I am not saying that the job would be better done by one of the now departed eastern european colleagues, rather that with their departure we now have a general shortage of people - and given the choice between a few days of head-scratching make-good work, and possibly several weeks of more straightforward work I'm sure you can see which one many guys would take.