Damp in Bedroom and soloutions

[ScottishGasMan]

Hey all, My patents house, circa 1950-60s from memory has always had an issue with damp stains in the bedroom. The pictures below will show the outside wall and inside (cant see the damp so well) but its mostly in the outside corner of the room, and the cupboard next to the chimney.

The chimney brickwork was removed from the top of the stack before they bought the house, and if there was a fireplace opening it was sealed then aswell.

As you can see there is an airbick to the front of the room, and ones every 6ft or so further down the side of the house, and no where else has issues, the roof has been checked and is sound, the render is sound and has regularly been treated with masonry paint, they open the windows fully in the bedroom and other rooms fully most of the day.

There may be some old cavity wall insulation still in there, Im not sure, but would it be worth either fitting an airbrick to the outside of the chimney breast (beaing in mind the chimney tops gone so there would be no draft as such) or one maybe 5foot up on the wall area above the gas meter box to allow the cavity to breath better?

 

[Crystalclear]

Did anyone get a picture of the last row of slates/tiles that sit above the rain gutter?

A slightly bad alignment, where the tiles are not far out enough a over the gutter, causing the rain water to be pushed under the slates/tiles and in between the cavity at the top, on a windy rainy day, might be causing the small amounts of water trickling down?

 

[ree]

SGM, Given the evidence of the pics, the last poster's comment has no relevance to your issues.

1. The extremely wide projecting chimney breast shows signs at low level of render contact with the ground. Likewise at the Ashlar effect bay render at low level - there are indications of previous repairs to the low render. Perhaps cut back the render by 50 - 60mm from GL?

2. Are the air vents above or below the floors?
There is a high level vent near the soil pipe - presumably for the WC compartment?

3. From the outside you could install one air brick low and one air brick high in the external chimney breast - this would give thro ventilation.
Note: there is a gas pipe entering the chimney breast.

4. There is condensation in the cupboard - remove the contents and leave the doors open for a month or two or, in future, remove the doors.

5. There's no need for "the cavity to breathe better"- dont attempt to vent it. The issue of any previous insulation can only be determined by looking into the cavity - typically with a Boroscope or similar.

6. What are the pics of the inside corner in the bedroom showing?

7. The property appears to be in excellent state.

 

[jeds]

What is the nature of the staining. Is it mould or actual dampness?

My guess is dark mould staining due to condensation, which is much more likely to occur in cupboards and corners. Ventilation is good but cold ventilation via open windows is not always the answer. What you need to achieve is movement of ambient air rather than introducing large volumes of cold air. You say there 'may be some old cavity wall insulation in there'. Not sure what you mean by that. Are the walls insulated or did you mean just the chimney breast?

These houses can be difficult to get completely condensation free. Positive input ventilation might be an option.

 

[catlad]

condensation issues are my first thought.

 

[joe-90]

1. It's condensation.

2. It's condensation

3 It's condensation.