damp problems

[bingbongbiddlybong]

I have moved into a new house and there are serious damp problems coming through the wall in the rear extension.
Looking at the width of the wall it does not appear to be very wide.
Can anyone suggest a solution that can deal with this that isn't too expensive.
many thanks

 

[JohnD]

I wonder if the roof is leaking, or the gutter, or the downpipe.

Or maybe it is condensation, or perhaps there is a plumbing leak.

You can see it, we can't. We don't know the cause so we don't know the cure.

 

[tapir]

Or something outside breaching the DPC?

If you've bought the house, didn't the survey pick this up? if it didn't, and it's a problem that's existed for a while, you need to take it up with the surveyor.

If you're renting the property, then it's the landlords problem to fix.

 

[bingbongbiddlybong]

thanks for that. its not the roof though as its half way down the wall.
i was advised by a chap i know that is in the building industry that a survy is a waste of money.
Obviously I have a problem now and am at a loss as to what to do.
No wonder the property was so cheap.
Can I paint something on the walls to hide it?
Maybe a dark paint?

 

[RedHerring]

Without sounding a bit patronising, do you still think that the survey would have been a waste?

You'll probably need to show a picture of the problem to get some suggestion to the remedy.

A hidden problem is still a problem so you should be looking to rectify it, not hide it.

If it's halfway down the wall (not forgetting that halfway down could be halfway up) can you see any possibility of water penetration from outside. e.g. leaking roof or drainage from the roof?
Could it be a broken water pipe that you can't see?
Could it be condensation?
Incidentally you're asking in the wrong place.

 

[lostinfens]

When you say you moved into a "new house" , you don't mean that it's a new build? How old is it? You say the wall isnt very thick, how thick is it & how high is the outside ground compared to the internal floor - ie is it below?

 

[bingbongbiddlybong]

many thanks for the interest.
the house is fairly old but has an extension at the rear.
The wall is about five or six inches thick.
In hindsigth, a survey would have been useful - never listening to advice again!
I have checked the gutters and roof and can't see anything obvious.
TBH, I am thinking of painting over it and selling. I know this isn't a solution, but at least it will be someone elses problem.
If it is easy to sort then brilliant, but if not then balls to it.

 

[JohnD]

... how high is the outside ground compared to the internal floor - ie is it below?

this is a very important question

 

[lostinfens]

When you say 5-6" thick, then it sounds like a single skin of brickwork. This suggests an attached outer building, shed or w.c. which has been magically transformed into a living area. Even were it so, then I'd be very surprised if there was no dpc. Check your outer wall to the house and see if you can't locate the original dpc, usually evident by a thicker mortar joint or even a slight sight of slate or felt dpc. I take it that the internal wall is rendered which would almost certainly show some moisture if it's a single skin, even with an extant dpc.
Sounds to me that your best course is to construct an internal skin, the next question is how best to do that and not transmit the damp through. Timber or block is the norm - no doubt there'll be an inundation of suggestions in that direction .