Weird Moisture Patch by chimneybreast

[KM27]

Hello

Moved in to new property 6 months ago. Weird moisture patches, and condensation drops appearing on one wall where chimney breast is.

Chimney needed some work - new flashing box and re-pointing. This stopped a leak that we could hear when it was raining.

However - still getting these weird moisture patches on the ceiling (Attic above), and condensation drops appearing along the wall where chimney breast is.

Bought dehumidifier which has reduced humidity but not sure has impacted moisture along that wall.

Pictures:

https://ibb.co/LvK2nct - Moisture Patch, like a ring
https://ibb.co/HCB5MkR - Yellow discolouring, moisture patch is adjacent to this
https://ibb.co/D4gCwjK - another angle showing discolouring

If I am ruling out weather related (i.e. roof) - what does this leave? Heating pipes go under the floor... (boiler is in this room and only one radiator to the left of photos, no radiators in attic!)..

There is a water tank in the attic but not sure it is being used as we have a COMBI boiler....

Any thoughts, ideas welcome as this is really puzzling me.

 

[jj4091]

The yellowing & possibly other patch will not disappear by drying out. If they are not getting any bigger then you have probably cured the fault & just need to redecorate. If that is the case then apply a coat of oil based gloss first then emulsion over it when it is dry. If you do not use gloss first then the stain will reappear through the emulsion. Can't really tell from your pics what you mean by "condensation drops"

 

[KM27]

Thanks! That is good to know re: yellow patch.

On the condensation - please see attached another picture showing the condensation droplets that run vertically down the wall.

https://ibb.co/VQZ768t

My main concern is the changing moisture patch on the ceiling (wet to touch).... surely I can't paint over that?

 

[tell80]

KM27,

Perhaps ask the mods to move this post to the building forum?

If the "new house" is similar to the houses through the window then your property is pretty old.
Which means the chimney breast will have possibly unswept & unvented flues.
And do you report leaking down the flue(s), &/or from the stack flashing?

Chemicals in unswept, unventilated & damp flues will find a way to the decorated surface of the c/breast, & cause staining.
I dont see a vent in the c/breast?
All redundant flues must be vented top & bottom.

If you want further advice then come back here.

fwiw: any redundant water tanks and pipes should be removed - as a health precaution.

 

[KM27]

Thanks very much. This is very useful.

yes - it is a very old property.

we are on the first floor - should the vent be on the floor below, or should we have one too? And sorry for novice question - but I am assuming this is a vent into the room as opposed to on the brick externally?

And sorry - last question - guessing this is a job for a standard builder? Or do you think it would need specialist damp proof etc.

Noted on the water tank. Thanks!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

we are on the first floor - should the vent be on the floor below, or should we have one too? And sorry for novice question - but I am assuming this is a vent into the room as opposed to on the brick externally?

Ventilation needs to be top to bottom to allow a full flow through each and every separate flue.

 

[tell80]

No worry about all and any questions.

The remedial measures I'm describing below are a worse case scenario. But no specialist Damp man is needed. Even a Handyman could do the inside work.

However many flues go into the chimney stack on the roof - each & everyone needs to be vented top and bottom.
Each room with a chimney breast running through it will typically have a fireplace - many fireplaces have been blocked off over the years thereby removing the bottom venting so to speak.

Assuming that your first floor flat fireplace is blocked off and the fireplace in the room below is also blocked off - then both "blocking offs" will need opening up to allow sweeping.
And then say a 9" x 3" or a 10" x 6" hit and miss vent is inserted into where the open fireplace used to be when the openings are re-covered.
Where the flues finish at the top of the stack, the flues (all flues) will need an appropriate terminal.

Its a pretty simple DIY job to insert a hit & miss vent in the room c/breast.
Opening & closing the blocked fireplaces is DIY doable
But all flues that run up the c/breast in your room will need sweeping and venting.

Modern roofers are nowadays providing the householder with before, during & after pics/vids of any roof work.
All roofing work should be done by professionals.

The stained decorated surfaces need hacking off back to bare brick, and rendering with a sand & lime mix render.
It could be that much more of the c/breast surface is contaminated - but a plasterer could easily deal with it.

The above remedies are a possibility but you could of course always try what was suggested by jj4091?

 

[foxhole]

Thanks very much. This is very useful.

yes - it is a very old property.

we are on the first floor - should the vent be on the floor below, or should we have one too? And sorry for novice question - but I am assuming this is a vent into the room as opposed to on the brick externally?

And sorry - last question - guessing this is a job for a standard builder? Or do you think it would need specialist damp proof etc.

Noted on the water tank. Thanks!

No such thing as a specialist damp proofing ( more commonly known as cowboys), the only thing special about them is the ridiculous prices they charge to remove non existent damp problems.

 

[jj4091]

Thanks! That is good to know re: yellow patch.

On the condensation - please see attached another picture showing the condensation droplets that run vertically down the wall.

https://ibb.co/VQZ768t

My main concern is the changing moisture patch on the ceiling (wet to touch).... surely I can't paint over that?

Your new pic. looks to me as though condensation is just running down the surface of the wall & damaging the decor. I am just guessing but it looks like he room is a kitchen & your problem is excess steam condensing on cold chimney breast when cooking. If so you need more ventilation in the room in general when cooking. Do you have a cooker hood or extractor fan? If not the you may just need to open a window when cooking.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

The whole chimney breast may have been tanked by whoever did the place up in an effort to hide the damp and possibly rising damp issues.
Tanking surfaces unfortunately regularly causes condensation issues.

 

[tell80]

KM27,
First floor c/breasts dont have rising damp neither are they tanked.

 

[Nige F]

KM27,
First floor c/breasts dont have rising damp neither are they tanked.

they do in America ree.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

KM27,
First floor c/breasts dont have rising damp neither are they tanked.

apologies. didn’t see the 1st floor bit.
but yes it’s quite possible it’s been tanked during renovation.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

they do in America ree.

he just looks for trouble 765 ..I mean 24/7.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

KM27,
First floor c/breasts dont have rising damp neither are they tanked.

Some chimney breasts actually look like chimney breasts and don’t even have windows in tel765.