Hi there, I'm new to the forum and have a difficult problem for which I would appreciate some advice..... I have lived in my end terrace for 15 years and have always had a damp problem with the end wall.I have two redundant chimneys which appear to have no damp course and in addition to this the neighbours drive runs the length of this wall(theirs is a semi) and it appears that a couple of my vents are partially covered by tarmac. They are elderly and I avoided tackling this problem up to now as I didn't want to upset them but my living room floor which was renewed, including some joists when I first moved in, is bouncing again. I have spoken to them and they are not convinced that they have a part to play in this but I am sure that underfloor vents should not be covered? any advice would be appreciated as I do not want to fall out with them.
damp on end wall
- Thread starter shaziebabes
- Start date
Are the Chimneys fully sealed up internally? Or is it properly capped at the top and sealed up at the bottom with a vent? Or is it just not in use but open? Basically is there good air ciculation in the chimney.
Also, you say the drive has been layed up to and along the length of the outer wall and is covering vents....is it also covering and layed over the damp proof course of the wall?
Furthermore - is the damp all over the wall - or concentrated low down (rising damp) or is it in very specific areas i.e near the chimney brests?
Is the damp on the wall seasonal? Or is it all year round? Is the wall a cavity wall or single skin? Is there cavity wall insulation if the wall is the former of the two?
Also, you say the drive has been layed up to and along the length of the outer wall and is covering vents....is it also covering and layed over the damp proof course of the wall?
Furthermore - is the damp all over the wall - or concentrated low down (rising damp) or is it in very specific areas i.e near the chimney brests?
Is the damp on the wall seasonal? Or is it all year round? Is the wall a cavity wall or single skin? Is there cavity wall insulation if the wall is the former of the two?
.... The chimneys are not in use, stack has been removed, tiled over with vented tiles. There is an external vent at about 8ft high & an internal vent on the chimney breast in what would have been the rear lounge. I have an elec fire over the front lounge opening.
The vents are only partially covered by the neighbours drive, the damp proof course plugs are visible approx 6 inches above the ground level.
The paint and plaster is lifting mainly around the chimney breast up to approx 1.5 mtrs but also on the walls either side although not as badly.
It certainly does seem to get worse in winter & I get really bad condensation as well. The external wall is solid, no cavity.
Thanks for taking time to look at this
The vents are only partially covered by the neighbours drive, the damp proof course plugs are visible approx 6 inches above the ground level.
The paint and plaster is lifting mainly around the chimney breast up to approx 1.5 mtrs but also on the walls either side although not as badly.
It certainly does seem to get worse in winter & I get really bad condensation as well. The external wall is solid, no cavity.
Thanks for taking time to look at this
Those air bricks of yours must be uncovered.....the greater the gale that blows below your timber floor the better.
There's a chance that rain may be bouncing above the injected damp course....are the walls made from stone?
John
There's a chance that rain may be bouncing above the injected damp course....are the walls made from stone?
John
I would also add the following:
The fact you get really bad condensation as well (I assume on windows...are they upvc or single glazed) I would begin to suspect that possibly self inflicted condensation is a contributing factor as well.
Please read this post which I recently responded to extensively and read the manuals on the links.
http://www.diynot.com/forums/building/condensation.386014/
You need to possibly ventilate your property much more than you may realise or expect.
Old properties were not made with central heating in mind and were made to be drafty and not air tight. That way the damp air circulated and escaped.
With modern drive towards insulation... upvc etc. there is more "air tightness" there is moist air and no where for it to go (this is made worse by central heating heating up and cooling down the room)....so it goes on to the nearest cold surfaces....your windows and especially that lovely cold single skin wall.
So you really need to ventilate a lot more. Keep trickle vents open (if you have them), windows open on night vent if your upvc has it (locked but open a crack), or just keep them open a crack.
Extractors in bathroom and kitchen (preferably with humidistat). Do not dry clothes on radiators!!!! Ensure dryer is vented outside and the extraction tube is not leaking and the fluff is removed regularly. Keep doors to kitchen and bathroom shut when in use! If you dont have a dryer...go to the laundrette.
If you have central heating, rather than having it go on and off. Try to keep a lower more constant heat to keep the room warm...
I am not saying this is the only cause... but is very likely to be a contributor..
People do not realise most of the time how much moist air is produced in a house on a daily basis, and that more often than not, they are the cause of the condensation...
The fact you get really bad condensation as well (I assume on windows...are they upvc or single glazed) I would begin to suspect that possibly self inflicted condensation is a contributing factor as well.
Please read this post which I recently responded to extensively and read the manuals on the links.
http://www.diynot.com/forums/building/condensation.386014/
You need to possibly ventilate your property much more than you may realise or expect.
Old properties were not made with central heating in mind and were made to be drafty and not air tight. That way the damp air circulated and escaped.
With modern drive towards insulation... upvc etc. there is more "air tightness" there is moist air and no where for it to go (this is made worse by central heating heating up and cooling down the room)....so it goes on to the nearest cold surfaces....your windows and especially that lovely cold single skin wall.
So you really need to ventilate a lot more. Keep trickle vents open (if you have them), windows open on night vent if your upvc has it (locked but open a crack), or just keep them open a crack.
Extractors in bathroom and kitchen (preferably with humidistat). Do not dry clothes on radiators!!!! Ensure dryer is vented outside and the extraction tube is not leaking and the fluff is removed regularly. Keep doors to kitchen and bathroom shut when in use! If you dont have a dryer...go to the laundrette.
If you have central heating, rather than having it go on and off. Try to keep a lower more constant heat to keep the room warm...
I am not saying this is the only cause... but is very likely to be a contributor..
People do not realise most of the time how much moist air is produced in a house on a daily basis, and that more often than not, they are the cause of the condensation...
Thanks Dishman & Burnerman... So you reckon I've got several problems then?!
I've invested in a dehumidifier and it's collecting about 1-2 litres every night- dreading the electricity bill though!
I need to have a full survey done don't I? I think this is going to be expensive ! I'm sure the blocked vents are part of the problem and yes Burnerman it is a solid brick/rendered wall. Someone told me that there is supposed to be 2 courses of brickwork under the vents? Is that right?
I agree that I probably should do more to ventilate the house - yesterday there was water dripping down the wall! It seems that there is so much moisture in here - it's a nightmare
[/b]
I've invested in a dehumidifier and it's collecting about 1-2 litres every night- dreading the electricity bill though!
I need to have a full survey done don't I? I think this is going to be expensive ! I'm sure the blocked vents are part of the problem and yes Burnerman it is a solid brick/rendered wall. Someone told me that there is supposed to be 2 courses of brickwork under the vents? Is that right?
I agree that I probably should do more to ventilate the house - yesterday there was water dripping down the wall! It seems that there is so much moisture in here - it's a nightmare
[/b]
I would definitely look at the condensation in the house as a possible main factor first. If you are able to change how you use the property than that is the cheapest (and fastest) way to mitigate the problem and get to a point where you know how much the blocked vents may be causing, they may be a minor factor, especially when you have water dripping off walls internally!
It will also be easier for a surveyor to properly assess the vent issue if you have eliminated internally generated damp as a cause.
So fix one issue first before you waste money trying to fix another.
Follow all the guidelines the those links/booklets posted in the other forum.
Get extractors fitted, keep windows open a crack, keep the house generally at a constant warm temperature....use an externally vented tumble dryer..do not dry clothes on radiators or inside the house on airers!
Do not rely on the dehumidifier (as you say it costs a lot to run). Try to fix the problem first.
It will also be easier for a surveyor to properly assess the vent issue if you have eliminated internally generated damp as a cause.
So fix one issue first before you waste money trying to fix another.
Follow all the guidelines the those links/booklets posted in the other forum.
Get extractors fitted, keep windows open a crack, keep the house generally at a constant warm temperature....use an externally vented tumble dryer..do not dry clothes on radiators or inside the house on airers!
Do not rely on the dehumidifier (as you say it costs a lot to run). Try to fix the problem first.
It's possible that the chimney has no dpc. The brickwork under the hearth and the chimney breast itself will be quite wide and unlikely to be damp-proofed for its full thickness below floor level.
In the old days when the chimney was in use, the fire would draw plenty of air and keep the brickwork dry, but now with an electric fire?.....
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