Rising Damp Internal Chimney Breast Eastbourne

[RajaStyle]

Hi All

Bought a bungalow and had a builder redo the lounge with panels and noticed rising damp on the right side of the chimney breast also damaging the bottom of the wall panels on the right side of chimney breast.

Any ideas what might be causing it ? or know anyone near Eastbourne with good knowledge ?

Thanks in Advance

 

[foxhole]

Not rising but falling damp, down the chimney , check roof for ingress . Has chimney pot been capped?

 

[RajaStyle]

Not rising but falling damp, down the chimney , check roof for ingress . Has chimney pot been capped?

Thanks fox I asked the builder and the below was his response

"Chimney looks all good, could always re point it if you like but would need a scaffold for that, I reckon it’s rising damp as it’s spreading towards the door... I’ll take the skirting off tomorrow and see if I can see anything "

Thoughts or tips of what to check?

 

[accelerator]

As above, has the chimney pot been capped?

You could hire a thermal imaging camera and point it at the wall. Cold spots will show where the damp is, and that might give you a clue as to where it's coming from.

 

[foxhole]

Thanks fox I asked the builder and the below was his response

"Chimney looks all good, could always re point it if you like but would need a scaffold for that, I reckon it’s rising damp as it’s spreading towards the door... I’ll take the skirting off tomorrow and see if I can see anything "

Thoughts or tips of what to check?

Change your builder is he thinks rising damp exists .

 

[foxhole]

Thanks fox I asked the builder and the below was his response

"Chimney looks all good, could always re point it if you like but would need a scaffold for that, I reckon it’s rising damp as it’s spreading towards the door... I’ll take the skirting off tomorrow and see if I can see anything "

Thoughts or tips of what to check?

Has chimney been capped?

 

[RajaStyle]

Has chimney been capped?

No it hasn't, you think that will fix it?

 

[foxhole]

No it hasn't, you think that will fix it?

Empty property with open chimney ?, rain is going to soak down to ground level , no fires to dry it out , if chimney is not in use in needs capping and venting. Any damp with dry out eventually.

 

[stevie888]

If rising damp doesn't exist then why do we bother with DPCs & DPMs?

It does but is typically limited to a max of 1200 or so. Damp higher up the wall is going to be something else.

A failed or more likely bridged DPM is the cause.

It is a case of sensible investigation. Don't sack your builder yet because many would have just said "chimney, guv I'll repoint it"

 

[RajaStyle]

Empty property with open chimney ?, rain is going to soak down to ground level , no fires to dry it out , if chimney is not in use in needs capping and venting. Any damp with dry out eventually.

Thanks I've asked the builder to cap it

If rising damp doesn't exist then why do we bother with DPCs & DPMs?

It does but is typically limited to a max of 1200 or so. Damp higher up the wall is going to be something else.

A failed or more likely bridged DPM is the cause.

It is a case of sensible investigation. Don't sack your builder yet because many would have just said "chimney, guv I'll repoint it"

How much typically is it to fix failed / bridged dpm so I know what I'm working with?

 

[foxhole]

If rising damp doesn't exist then why do we bother with DPCs & DPMs?

It does but is typically limited to a max of 1200 or so. Damp higher up the wall is going to be something else.

A failed or more likely bridged DPM is the cause.

It is a case of sensible investigation. Don't sack your builder yet because many would have just said "chimney, guv I'll repoint it"

So damp isn’t affected by gravity till it reaches 1200? That more likely height the build up of damp can no longer be contained by the walls and gravity forces it out .

 

[stevie888]

Look up surface tension

 

[mrrusty]

It does but is typically limited to a max of 1200 or so

This is a photo from heritage house, which I know is somewhat controversial and I certainly don't agree with everything on there, BUT, if rising damp does exist as capillary action, why is there no sign of a "tide line" in a brick wall standing in water? I have my own opinions on this "1m up the wall" phenomenon - but for sure, not everyone agrees....

 

[opps]

Look up surface tension

And capillary action.

Frankly, I am shocked to see people denying that rising damp exists. I wonder if those people also insist that the earth is flat.

Last week, I was working on scaffolding and could not but help eavesdropping a conversation by builders near by. One was was totally bonkers. He said that the etymology of the word "government" was 1. govern/control and 2. that "ment" means "mind". Ergo, mind control. He went on to say the the earth is flat and there is only one up and down. Then he insisted that no humans have ever been into outer space because it is impossible to enter a vacuum... Chuffin' bizarre.

 

[ree]

OP,
Your pic doesn't show any signs of damp? Why not take closer more clear pics esp where you have now removed the skirting?
Whoever goes on the roof should take pics of the stack flashing & the top flaunching of the stack?

Inserting a ventilating cowl in the redundant flue chimney pot will help vent the redundant flue.