Cracked concert plinth/base around bay window

[Craggsman]

Morning!

First post here, I've had a good search about before posting this but I'm a bit in the dark about what I'm searching for so please be gentle!

We've recently purchased an end terrace (built around 1905). It has 3 bay windows and we've had some damp proof work done and I've hopefully corrected the guttering which wasn't allowing the water to run away properly.

Around the bay windows is this "concrete plinth/base" (is that what you'd called it?!?) which has sunk over time allowing a void between the plinth and bay window wall. It's meant garden shrubbery has been allowed to grow as well as becoming a home for slugs/snails. Possibly because its dark and damp?

So apart from its aesthetically looking a a bit crap, could it allow water to egress down to the foundations attributing to the raising damp? Could I easily fill the gaps with new cement (after removing the wildlife) or should I eventually pull it all up, dig some new foundations and start again?

Any recommendations welcome and thanks for looking!

 

[vinn]

What kind of "damp proofing work" have you had done - I can see a line of injection holes in the bottom course of bricks but they look to be old?
Do you still have any signs of damp?

The dark concrete base should be removed, so should the white painted plinth below the bottom course of bricks - remove the plinth from wherever you find it on the walls.
There's no need to dig anything up esp. the foundations.

In a 1905 house you might have solid walls without cavities, and suspended floors - but I dont see any air brick in the photo - are there air bricks around the house?

 

[Craggsman]

Hi, thanks for your reply!

The damp course we've had done included additional air bricks (not seen in the photo), injecting the damp course treatment around the front using those existing holes and the plaster inside removed then re-plastered. We haven't painted the plaster yet and no signs of any new damp so I'm happy with the work that's been carried out.

So do you think that concrete base isn't original? or was more of an aesthetic thing then a method to keep water away from the house foundations and as such better to just remove it? I'm guessing the paint as well stops the house breathing and thus should be removed?

Also just for reference it does have cavity walls.

Thanks
Ian

 

[vinn]

With a cavity wall both skins should be treated - the interior sin should be drilled and injected from the inside, and the outer skin should be drilled and injected from the outside.
Or if the interior is inaccessible then the outer holes are opened up, & the inner skin is "double drilled" & injected from the outside. There's no sign of double drilling on your bricks.
So, presumably the inner skin was done from inside?

What material was used to "re-plaster" - its still early days, and if gypsum plaster (wrong) was used it might take a little while for damp to re- present again.

Did the D&T Co change any skirting boards?
Did they go below the floor & examine the joists where they sit in the walls - esp in the bays or where damp was present?

The white plinth is bridging any damp course thats present.
Was any mention made of examining the cavities for bridging debris?

What kind of "guarantee" did they give you?

 

[Craggsman]

The whole thing took about 3 days and although I wasn't present during all of it, I got to see how it was done in stages (again I'm no expect so excuse my terminology). It was injected both inside/out. The re-plastering internally had what looked like a cement/concrete before the final skim over. The skirting boards had to come off for the work to be done. The floor wasn't needed to be checked as it was done as part of the survey. All comes with a guarantee although of course you don't know how good it is until you need it! As it was done by someone who was recommended, I'm not too concerned (at this stage) about that work carried out but I appreciate your view of whats already been done.

So I'll have a look at removing the white paint at the weekend. And you think the dark concrete base just needs to go?