Hiya,
The situation is that in the kitchen, we have had the chimney opened up so a range cooker can fit in. It's perfectly done, however, on the pillar nearest the wall to next door, there is damp. It's about a foot and half up from the floor. The floor of the chimney which is old flag stone on earth is also damp towards that side of the chimney. The builder used plasterboard and dot and dab to make the opening square, because the bricks were very poorly pointed. It's been damp for over a year now, and doesn't seem to get any bigger. The other chimney pillar is dry, as is that portion of the floor. Above the damp patch upstairs is the shower. It's an old solid stone early 1900 end of terrace with no damp proofing. The chimney breast is on the wall between the kitchen and utility room.
I'm wondering, could the pipework to the shower be leaking into the chimney above and running down inside because there's no damp near the ceiling or anywhere else.
Also, during periods of hot and dry weather it can all but disappear. As long as its dry for a week or more. When it rains it doesn't get much worse.
Finally, how long will it take for the plasterboard to disintegrate, because at the moment, its still very sound with no mold growth or effloresence or salt staining. (which I'm surprised, cos if water was dripping down a previously used coal chimney, it would be full of salts or so I would presume).
The chimney is vented top and bottom, and recently (last 3 yrs) repointed.
Sorry for such a long post.
Ralph.
The situation is that in the kitchen, we have had the chimney opened up so a range cooker can fit in. It's perfectly done, however, on the pillar nearest the wall to next door, there is damp. It's about a foot and half up from the floor. The floor of the chimney which is old flag stone on earth is also damp towards that side of the chimney. The builder used plasterboard and dot and dab to make the opening square, because the bricks were very poorly pointed. It's been damp for over a year now, and doesn't seem to get any bigger. The other chimney pillar is dry, as is that portion of the floor. Above the damp patch upstairs is the shower. It's an old solid stone early 1900 end of terrace with no damp proofing. The chimney breast is on the wall between the kitchen and utility room.
I'm wondering, could the pipework to the shower be leaking into the chimney above and running down inside because there's no damp near the ceiling or anywhere else.
Also, during periods of hot and dry weather it can all but disappear. As long as its dry for a week or more. When it rains it doesn't get much worse.
Finally, how long will it take for the plasterboard to disintegrate, because at the moment, its still very sound with no mold growth or effloresence or salt staining. (which I'm surprised, cos if water was dripping down a previously used coal chimney, it would be full of salts or so I would presume).
The chimney is vented top and bottom, and recently (last 3 yrs) repointed.
Sorry for such a long post.
Ralph.