builder recommendations required - for finding the source of, and fixing, a damp wall and ceiling

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Permalink Reply by Alison P on October 28, 2014 at 21:45

Have a look at this post - might be worth getting someone in specifically to identify what the precise damp problem is before you get a builder to quote. We got varying accounts of what our problem was, but then had a useful survey which has saved us a fair bit of money (assuming its correct!).

http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/penetrating-damp

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Permalink Reply by Mrs Baylis on October 28, 2014 at 22:00

thanks Alison, looking at that thread - did you get your written report, and did they get it right - i.e. did they identify the problem that needed fixing, did you get the work done, and has it fixed the damp?

thanks

Eli

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Permalink Reply by Alison P on October 29, 2014 at 9:38

Yes we got the written report. We'd been concerned about 3 things. One he said wasn't anything to worry about (so we've done nothing!). Another was damp caused by a leak around a window frame, and he told us how to fix it ourselves (which we've done and its stopped). The final thing is the more complicated one - he suggested one thing to try first (which we've done but it hasn't stopped it completely) and then another course of action if that didn't work - so we need to give that a bit more thought.

Good luck with your problem. From what you've said perhaps you don't need a specialist visit - we found it useful because we had a number of issues we were concerned about and had been given very varying advice about what they were down to. So for us it was reassuring having someone give their opinion without having a vested interest in the outcome, if you see what I mean.

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Permalink Reply by Mrs Baylis on October 29, 2014 at 13:33

thanks very much Alison :o)

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Permalink Reply by Protheroe O'Shea on October 28, 2014 at 21:53

Is the damp behind pictures or furniture?

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Permalink Reply by Mrs Baylis on October 28, 2014 at 22:07

Ben, no, neither,

it started in the top corner of where our external wall  joins our neighbour's house, and is spreading downwards and also over the ceiling from this one starting point. Its also appearing as small darker patches elsewhere on and further down the same wall.

We've had a new roof this year, and further remedial work done to flashings and parapets as the problem had not gone away. After all that its still getting worse.

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Permalink Reply by empyrean_aisles on October 28, 2014 at 22:40

We had a similar problem, which was troubling as we'd had the roof redone a short time previously. It turned out to be the neighbour's roof, which had a leak and so was causing dampness on their wall (ie the party wall), which was soaking through to our side and causing the paint to discolour.

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Permalink Reply by Mrs Baylis on October 29, 2014 at 8:45

hmm, interesting, I did wonder if it might be their roof/chimney stack. Thanks, will add that to the list of things to investigate!

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Permalink Reply by Mrs Baylis on October 29, 2014 at 13:37

thanks Tris, that's very helpful. The problem was there before the roof being redone and now its worse! I do think it might be a render/parapet issue. Trouble is its a butterfly/london roof and typically, the problem is on the side of the house with no loft access - only one side of the roof has loft/roof access. annoying!

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Permalink Reply by Mr Wodjacallim on October 29, 2014 at 18:20

Check this guy Paul Tubbs who is a roofer. Sounds lie the water is coming form the roof/gutter. 020 3627 1813

Suggest you put a coat of undercoat or aluminium primer over damaged plaster, then repaint. Stops the damp coming through.

£10 on ebay buys you an Infrared Thermometer or damp meter. You can use either to find the dampest / coldest part of the wall, then find out what's above it.

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Permalink Reply by Emma on October 29, 2014 at 21:33

Hi had the same problem and it was the guttering- fixed the guttering and the problem was solved

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Permalink Reply by Steve on October 30, 2014 at 13:23

Hi Eli

Looks like you've had a lot of good suggestions/advice. Reading through it reminded me of a number of conversations I've had with my builder, David O'Doherty, about damp which as you  know can be hugely difficult to identify the cause as often where it ends up isn't where it starts - water will travel through the least line of resistance! Anyway one of the things that stuck in my mind is David being called to a number of damp issues following loft conversions and his findings where often the lack of understanding of sand and cement based issues and attention to detail. David may not be a damp expert as such but does understand building structure, chimneys, parapets, render etc. He is entirely trustworthy and will not do unnecessary work - well worth giving a ring on: 07830119421

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