I have recently bought a property in County Durham which we are renovating. It is originally a Victorian house with a large extension which has been poorly built and the house has clearly been poorly cared for.
There is damp in the original Victorian part of the house which appears to be rising damp. I have had 4 damp-proof people in all of whom suggested hacking off the existing plaster, injecting a chemical DPC and then replastering with a specialised plaster. However none of them have considered the cause of the damp and I am loathed to fork out thousands of pounds for something which is likely to return again in the future (there is evidence of previous treatment in the house). One of them even suggested treating areas that aren't currently affected by damp which made me lose my confidence in him further.
The house has a render on the front of the house. At the side of the house, the ground level is higher than the house with about a 1 foot gap between the house and the higher ground level. Someone has put a plastic membrane between the house and the ground to try to stop water seeping in but it's clearly not working. There is insufficient air bricks in the house. I asked one damp proofer if this could be causing the problem and he said he doubted it. Is this right?
Should I remove the render on the front of the house?
Should we install a drain at the side of the house where the ground level is high?
If we hack off the plaster ourselves, what should we replaster with?
Any help much appreciated!
There is damp in the original Victorian part of the house which appears to be rising damp. I have had 4 damp-proof people in all of whom suggested hacking off the existing plaster, injecting a chemical DPC and then replastering with a specialised plaster. However none of them have considered the cause of the damp and I am loathed to fork out thousands of pounds for something which is likely to return again in the future (there is evidence of previous treatment in the house). One of them even suggested treating areas that aren't currently affected by damp which made me lose my confidence in him further.
The house has a render on the front of the house. At the side of the house, the ground level is higher than the house with about a 1 foot gap between the house and the higher ground level. Someone has put a plastic membrane between the house and the ground to try to stop water seeping in but it's clearly not working. There is insufficient air bricks in the house. I asked one damp proofer if this could be causing the problem and he said he doubted it. Is this right?
Should I remove the render on the front of the house?
Should we install a drain at the side of the house where the ground level is high?
If we hack off the plaster ourselves, what should we replaster with?
Any help much appreciated!
There is somewhere in the build regs. a recommended spacing . I would use those high airflow plastic ones on walls where they are not too unsightly . Also you need to get air round/through any solid floors . Vic. houses quite often have them @ the back, scullery , larder etc. French Drain @ the side would help - lowering the earth level would be better . Leave the render and the plaster for now . - Check all underground drains from gutter downpipes + downpipes/gutters too . Leave the place open as much as possible in the summer . Check chimneys that may be sealed off @ the fireplace have ventilation to the top of the flue.
