Getting rid of damp

[MrFrost]

Does anyone on here know a good cost effective way of getting rid of damp?
My mum lives in an old stone cottage which suffers from damp on the Walls with one wall above the fire being particularly bad.
She has sought some advice already and has been told because of the age and type of property little can be done about it.

[Filo]

It needs Tanking, it means stripping all the plaster back to the bare walls about 1 metre high and then a waterproof membrane attatching to the wall all around the room before being rendered and then plastered over to make good, it`s a messy job

[MrFrost]

I think this was looked at. Does the fact that all the internal Walls are stone make any difference?

[charleydrfc]

you need to find the reason why its getting damp first.also  its usualy only the external walls that would need taking back.

[MrFrost]

She was td the reason for the wall above the fire was because the fire opening had been closed up. She has had thisreopened with a wood burning stove fitted but the wall above is still very damp and in wet conditions it is soaking.

[charleydrfc]

if its getting wet during or after a spell of rain it looks like the water is coming down the chimney. i cant see why opening the fire place could create damp.

[CusworthRovers]

Have you changed her colostomy bag?



........and another moan, by the way.

[MrFrost]

charleydrfc wrote:

if its getting wet during or after a spell of rain it looks like the water is coming down the chimney. i cant see why opening the fire place could create damp.

No, what was said is that because the fire opening had been closed, this effected ventilation and was the cause of the damp, she was told by reopening the fire that this would cure the problem, but it hasn't.

[Dagenham Rover]

Just a thought is the pointing on the chimney and flashing round the stack ok If it isn't it could allow damp/water in and run down the inside.
 Not that I know anything about this sort of thing but it could be a possibility

[Filo]

MrFrost wrote:

charleydrfc wrote:

if its getting wet during or after a spell of rain it looks like the water is coming down the chimney. i cant see why opening the fire place could create damp.

No, what was said is that because the fire opening had been closed, this effected ventilation and was the cause of the damp, she was told by reopening the fire that this would cure the problem, but it hasn't.

If it`s above the fireplace, it`s not rising damp, if it`s just on the chimney breast then it has to be a problem with the chimney, the fireplace has been re opened thus creating ventilation so there should be no condensation issues, unless the chimney flue is blocked. You say that a stove has been put in the fireplace, is this stove working or is it purely ornamental? If it`s the latter, i would suggest you get the chimney capped to prevent rain ingress

[MrFrost]

Filo wrote:

MrFrost wrote:

charleydrfc wrote:

if its getting wet during or after a spell of rain it looks like the water is coming down the chimney. i cant see why opening the fire place could create damp.

No, what was said is that because the fire opening had been closed, this effected ventilation and was the cause of the damp, she was told by reopening the fire that this would cure the problem, but it hasn't.

If it`s above the fireplace, it`s not rising damp, if it`s just on the chimney breast then it has to be a problem with the chimney, the fireplace has been re opened thus creating ventilation so there should be no condensation issues, unless the chimney flue is blocked. You say that a stove has been put in the fireplace, is this stove working or is it purely ornamental? If it`s the latter, i would suggest you get the chimney capped to prevent rain ingress

It is a working stove. There is slight damp on other walls, which looks like rising damp, but nothing like what is on the chimney breast.

[Nudga]

Has the chimney been lined for the use of the stove?

[MrFrost]

Nudga wrote:

Has the chimney been lined for the use of the stove?

Yes, as far as I know.

[Nudga]

If it was, was the void back filled with insulating wool? Has the chimney got a rain cap on it?

[MrFrost]

Nudga wrote:

If it was, was the void back filled with insulating wool? Has the chimney got a rain cap on it?

No idea.  

[Nudga]

If the diameter of the flue is more than 11\" (and i'm not on about yer mothers minge) it will create condensation, even with a working stove and one that has been lined. This happens when the stove isn't operating at full power or has been left to go out.

It does sound like water ingress rather than condensation though.



Edit; Did she have this stove AFTER you knew that I install them? If so, consider your self bollocked Mr Frost.  

[MrFrost]

Nudga wrote:

If the diameter of the flue is more than 11\" (and i'm not on about yer mothers minge) it will create condensation, even with a working stove and one that has been lined. This happens when the stove isn't operating at full power or has been left to go out.

It does sound like water ingress rather than condensation though.



Edit; Did she have this stove AFTER you knew that I install them? If so, consider your self bollocked Mr Frost.  

She's had it in over a year mate.
Is there any solution you can think of then?

[nice one rovers]

Is it wet and causing mould or does it appear wet/ greasy looking?

[MrFrost]

nice one rovers wrote:

Is it wet and causing mould or does it appear wet/ greasy looking?

Ermmm, both?

[nice one rovers]

.. Like in little patches?

[Filo]

Is the chimney breast upstairs damp? If it was water coming down the chimney you would expect the whole chimney breast to be damp. Are there any water pipes, central heating pipes that run close to the chimney breast under the floorboards upstairs? if so there may be a leaking pipe

[Nudga]

It's just a process of elimination really, start with the simple things like the ones above like no rain cap on top of chimney pot, chimney stack re-pointed properly, flue lining and insulating, are there water/central heating pipes near by that could be leaking? What does the chimney breast look like in other rooms/ upstairs/loft.

[nice one rovers]

Its just that there is a problem specific to chimney breasts, its caused by the infusion of years of sulphur and carbon into the brick/ stone, and it attracts moisture. but it's not damp as such, just wet looking and annoying.  cure for that is to chop out that area and replace with a new brick and re plaster. other wise if it is damp i'd get it tanked.

[MrFrost]

Nudga wrote:

It's just a process of elimination really, start with the simple things like the ones above like no rain cap on top of chimney pot, chimney stack re-pointed properly, flue lining and insulating, are there water/central heating pipes near by that could be leaking? What does the chimney breast look like in other rooms/ upstairs/loft.

It is damp upstairs aswell.

The property is rented, although the owners won't do anything about it. Maybe she needs to be a bit firmer with them.

[Filo]

MrFrost wrote:

Nudga wrote:

It's just a process of elimination really, start with the simple things like the ones above like no rain cap on top of chimney pot, chimney stack re-pointed properly, flue lining and insulating, are there water/central heating pipes near by that could be leaking? What does the chimney breast look like in other rooms/ upstairs/loft.

It is damp upstairs aswell.

The property is rented, although the owners won't do anything about it. Maybe she needs to be a bit firmer with them.

Damp encourages the growth of black mould, which is toxic, whin in turn then becomes an environmental health issue, so the landlords are then obliged to do something about the problem

[charleydrfc]

cowel cap on top of chimney ?