Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Damp patches and mould in front room - builder needed
I live in a Victorian terraced house and whilst decorating my front room I have discovered two damp patches (around 6 inches by 4 inches). One is on the side of the chimney breast (which has been sealed off) and the other is on the wall adjacent to the chimney breast. Both are just above the skirting board. I have also found what looks like mould spores on the walls and skirting boards in the rest of the room.
Before I continue decorating I want to have a builder come around and give me some advice about the cause of the damp, and the possible treatments/solutions. I have read enough about bogus damp specialists to be rather cautious about going to one of them.
Does anyone have any recommendations please? Thanks.
Tags for Forum Posts: damp-prrofing
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sassie on
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Sorry, meant to post in the trades and other services category and I can't seem to move the post!
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Hi my name is Richard Sheridan and I am a local builder maybe I can come over and have a look and give you some advice call me 02084857240/07466859579
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Sassie, before you commit to spending a lot of money there are a few things to rule out. You say the chimney breast has been sealed off. Is it vented in some way? Also, if you are on the ground floor, has the vent from outside into the room (wihich ventilates under the floor) been blocked. People often do this to stop draughts. Finally, if this is an outside wall check that guttering is not damaged or blocked in a way that allows rainwater to run down the brick work. This all all cheap to check and have remedied so worth at least crossing off the list.
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Michael thank you for your helpful pointers. We think it is the fireplace that needs venting, along with maybe the chimney pot having a cowl fitted. We're not in the business of having the whole damp course replaced yet!
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Thanks Jonny for the heads-up. I am always suspicious of specialist damp companies.
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Thank you Tris for such a comprehensive reply. We are mid terrace and we do think that the damp is coming from the fireplace. We have found another area of damp this morning when we were sanding down the shelving around the fireplace. The flue is not vented and I am not convinced that the chimney has a cowl on it either. We are getting a builder in to look at it all. The good news (?) is that the mould spores are black, not rust.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
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Hi- I am facing a similar problem. I think the cowling Tris mentioned is something along these lines- called a pepper pot- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Terracotta-Chimney-Cowl-Pot-Cover-/121224.... It may have one already and your problem is one of condensation and not rain getting in, but worth checking it (a) ahs a cover and (b) it is in good order.
It is likely that the chimney needs a vent at the bottom to let air move. Cold air sinks and the water in it will condense out. Ours needs a bit more because we think there is a lot of crap (soot, mortar) behind it, and the soot is hygroscopic- absorbing water... So, we are going to knock it out and turn it into a feature while we clean the chimney of soot too.
Finally, when you come to pain, you need an oil based paint (old school gloss or undercoat) to paint over the where the damp patches have left a tide mark- otherwise it will just come through the emulsion...
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The main cause behind damp and mould growth is condensation. There might be huge moisture on side of the chimney breast and wall adjacent to it. Instead of spending too much money, you should buy a good mould remover and make sure to keep that area as much dry as you can. Also you need to install a home ventilation system which reduce moisture level from air.
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