wall problem

[hutchinsons]

heres what i have. presently working on a job and to be honest not the best one to do in the world but what can you do.. anyway.. i have this wall to do in a kitchen, thought it looked damp the customer agreed so i have removed all the plaster right down to the bare brick.sure enough the wall looks wet. cannot tell if its rising damp, or penetrating damp.. deffo no water leaks anywhere.. the customer said just do the best you can..the challenge to you people is.. what next.. how to prep the wall so i can finish the job? cheers Kev

[kilty55]

im o you cant until the source of the damp has been found,i assume its an external wall

[nybor62]

as kilty says find the source of the problem 1st

[Bri]

As above, the source of the damp needs to be found, then sorted, the wall needs to be allowed to dry out, then the tanking/plastering/tiling process can be done.

[whitebeam]

Is it a single skin wall or a cavity one...

[hutchinsons]

thats the thing its internal. its got me stumped as to where the damp has come from. its a Victorian house so maybe its coming up over.. but also it joins an old external wall too. i think i need to get a builder to check it out first. i can solve most problems ive come across but this one has got me.

[hutchinsons]

its a wide wall can not tell if its cavity but the other side if fine just this side. they have a dehumidifier going tonight to see if that helps..

[kendo1]

Is there access to under floor?
Had this problem a while back- turned out to be an unconnected waste pipe.

[whitebeam]

There has'nt been an old chimney taken away at some point...

[Mike]

if your not sure get an expert in, preferably one you can trust so as not to rip anyone off

[hutchinsons]

thanks guys .. there was an old bathroom there before so could be an old waste pipe there Kendo1, the floor is concrete so cant get under. the floor is the same level as outside ground level so i was thinking maybe the water is penetrating through ..no no chimney whitebeam but the house has been changed so much..im not going to proceed until it get resolved though. there's so many maybes . i think you're right mike its got to be an expert... cheers people

[whitebeam]

The ground outside being on the same level looks a possible..

[John Benton]

Dont put any tiles on the wall until you've got to the source. Your customer says just do the best you can - Will he say the same when the tiles start falling off, I'm sure he won't.

As Mike said get someone in to assess the cause because the customer will be throwing his money away if not.

[Gazebo]

Hi Hutchinsons

I have come across this several times in my area and it's usually due to the external garden/party wall. If this wall is joined into the end of the building and if the party wall or end wall in the house a not cavity then a problem arises.


It could also be that a cavity has been breached and letting moisture pass between the 2 skins of brickwork.


It could be that the dpc has been breached or just perished.


Normally damp proof companies now quote to inject a cream into the wall at 100mm spacings horizontally around the damp area and vertically at wall joints.

Then apply a render coat. Then 2 coats of 'Vandex' or similar.


Then either more render or hardwall then skim. Or dot n dab plasterboard.


Good luck but do get it sorted before any further work is undertaken.


Gary

[hutchinsons]

cheers Gary i think its the damp proof break down too. the dehumidifier has boon on all night and today and i must say the wall looks 100% better. just a tiny patch next to the floor in a bottom corner. going to have a look again tomorrow.

cheers.
kev