severe damp problem above a window

[Architexeter]

Or you could timber clad or tile hang the gable down to the window head?

Your cavity has essentially stopped working as it was designed to so you've got to stop the water penetration of the outer leaf - but ideally keep it porous (no use using any unbreathable treatment eg bitumen or something like that) so the cavity can dry out and any new interstitial condensation can escape.

It seems you are on the right track in terms of identifying and solving the defect.

hope that helps.

 

[catlad]

You could put some roofing felt on the wall with some vertical batons as a start to tiling and that will waterproof your wall, and if it does not dry out then you can eliminate the wall.

 

[fmck]

Something similar happened with some new housing put up near me that some houses had dampness coming through above their windows. It only effected windows facing the prevailing wind and houses exposed. The company returned and had to fit dpc above the windows and weep holes. The walls when saturated with driving rain start to trickle dampness inside the outer leaf. I think waterproof render like you say would be a good solution maybe even cheaper waterproofed.

 

[donmaico]

had a builder call round , who checked guttering and roof and found nothing wrong there .No water pipes running in the vecinity either.He thinks the problem I have is caused by driving rain going through the painted brickwork via defective pointing which need to be replaced .He also thinks the cavity trays above each window may have been dislodged when the new windows were fitted and suggested the fitters should have used akros when they fitted them.

He will carry out an inspection in the worst effected ares by removing a few bricks but thinks there maybe some debris gathered there which act as a bridge.
I agreed to the repointing but what i not sure about is his suggestion that the existing cavity trays should be replaced by new pre formed one that runs the length of the wall and above the three windows and with weep holes every 600mm.I see his logic but i thought such cavity trays only ran above each window,i.e. they are not like regular DPCs.Could someone advise me please? Thanks

 

[donmaico]

Something similar happened with some new housing put up near me that some houses had dampness coming through above their windows. It only effected windows facing the prevailing wind and houses exposed. The company returned and had to fit dpc above the windows and weep holes. The walls when saturated with driving rain start to trickle dampness inside the outer leaf. I think waterproof render like you say would be a good solution maybe even cheaper waterproofed.

that would be my last option if what has been suggested to me doesn't work,either that or cladding as Architexeter suggested

sorry to take so long to reply

 

[donmaico]

Or you could timber clad or tile hang the gable down to the window head?

Your cavity has essentially stopped working as it was designed to so you've got to stop the water penetration of the outer leaf - but ideally keep it porous (no use using any unbreathable treatment eg bitumen or something like that) so the cavity can dry out and any new interstitial condensation can escape.

It seems you are on the right track in terms of identifying and solving the defect.

hope that helps.

one of my neighbours had that done to his house . My house is aligned differently to his in as much at the gables are facing sideways on rather than front and backwards in relation to the street.It looks very effective giving the house a New England look but i expect it was very expensive