Damp issues

[john306]

My daughter's house has started showing damp in the hallway that's just inside the front door. She sent a picture of the outside of where the damp is showing and one out the back.
Does that look like the damp proof course has been cemented over and might be giving the issues, or am I reading it wrong?
Thanks.

 

[avonmouth]

Someone has already tried to deal with a damp issue judging by all them injection holes.

 

[accelerator]

That line of cement does look unusual.

Would be good to see a pic of the damp inside.

 

[john306]

Thanks. I'm going down tomorrow so will get some pics in daylight.

 

[ree]

OP,
The thick bed of mortar could be the DPC - using thick bed mortar for a DPC often fails in time.
A previous go at injecting a chemical DPC has been attempted.
Is that an Aco linear drain showing in pic one? What is the white plastic device?
Given the air bricks then it suggests a suspended floor - hence the joist tails sitting in wall pockets will be at risk of rotting?
The brick bonding suggests a cavity wall.
Tomorrow examine all around the external & the internal perimeter of the house - take interior & exterior pics.

 

[john306]

I think it's just a length of cable and part of a mop.
She's moved in 3 years ish and no problems the previous winters.
Only thing done lately is a complete new bathroom.
I'll get photos tomorrow.

 

[foxhole]

Need better pictures of outside up to gutters. Strange piece of timber screwed to base of brickwork by door.?

 

[john306]

Oh yes I never noticed that.
I've no idea, it's an old house that previous couple lived in for decades.

 

[stevie888]

I would suggest that if the problem has only been observed after the bathroom works this is the first place to look.

Is there a gap behind the render? It looks as if the place has been battened out and maybe cut away to do the injection as you'd normally see a drip bead at the bottom to kick any drips out away from the wall face.

The wide strip of mortar isn't original: someone's idea of tidying up the dpc.

 

[Deluks]

Check the aco is draining away freely and not backing up during heavy rain.
Pour a couple of buckets down in that location and see what happens.

 

[john306]

I went down this morning and there was a last a 1 inch deep pool around the blocked drain channel and up against the house wall along with dirt and leaves.
So that was the problem all along, lack off maintenance and awareness.
I've left it to them to clean it out and keep it clear.
Thanks for advice, it could have been worse, just need to get the dehumidifier out and get it down there to dry the inside wall.
Cheers

 

[ree]

OP,
You still dont know what the cause of "the hallway damp" is, neither will a dehumidifier solve the problem.

 

[john306]

I was assuming the water and debris up against the outside wall directly behind where the damp patch inside is, was the cause.
Even the mortar in the pics in that area was damp, and the mortar either side looked dry.

I was hoping the dehumidifier would pull out any moisture in the walls.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I was hoping the dehumidifier would pull out any moisture in the walls.

It will help dry the moisture out, but it will not address an ongoing damp problem.

 

[ree]

OP,
I'm giving you free professional advice, & asking questions based on experience.
Perhaps you will follow my advice for what its worth?