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Original poster

Is This Damp?

31 replies

QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 17:47

We had a leak a month or so ago, and in the corner of the room on the toher side of the wall, there was a wet patch. It took forever to dry out for some reason, but we blamed the leak. Since then, we have a big wet patch in the corner of the living room, 2 corners of the bedroom, 1 corner of the nursery and has spread really badly (I think because it's wallpapered). We bought the house in June and the surveyors report came back no damp. All the walls affected are outside walls. One of the bedrooms ones is likely to have been caused by the leak aswell, but the other one I don't know. I didn't notice it until I moved something, and it's all black. What can I do? Do I ring and have it checked? Who does things like that? Most of our house (funny shape) is up in the air, so its nothing like the damp course (?) being covered. I don't really know what to do...

Thankyou xXx

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/12/2006 17:57

If it wasn't repaired correctly then you may well have a slower leak now or a pool of water left behind somewhere which hasn't dried out. It sounds as if it may have mildewed (ie gone black)now as it didn't dry out. Presumably the atmosphere was fairly humid inisde the hosue too when the leak occurred. Otherwise check your guttering and drain pipes are clear and not overflowing.

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 17:58

The other patches are in a totally different area. Ill get guttering checked, thanks xxx

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/12/2006 17:59

oh and bear in mind that it was summer when your surveyor took his readings and unless you paid for a structural survey a quick spot check with a damp meter would have been all he did.

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 18:01

We paid for something... above and beyond the mortgage valuation. And got some report back... I really cant think what now though.

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/12/2006 18:09

Possibly a Homebuyers Report ? much less detailed than a Full Structural survey.

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 18:10

possibly. Can you get a survery done when not buying a house?

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/12/2006 18:12

Yes I'm sure you can but phone someone independent of the mrotgage company preferably on personal recommendation. Who fixed the leak , perhaps get them to come and have a look first ?

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 18:13

DH fixed the leak! Was just a bog standard under the sink leak. The patch caused by that has dried now...

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/12/2006 18:16

Ah . Do you get condensation in any of the rooms , might cause some damp to accumulate in the corners, or wet washing lying around.

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 18:17

yes. very condensated. (sp?) Nursery isnt used, and has no radiator for some reason... and the back wall is soaking. Would it accumulate in the corners?

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/12/2006 18:21

Could do. Sounds like you may need a dehumifier and to air the house, harder in damp wintry weather though.

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 19:07

o right, thankyou xXx

OP posts:
JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 27/12/2006 19:50

damp rises so tends to be on the ground floor, anything else is condensation (so my buider told me anyway!)

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 19:58

not ground floor - we are in mid air. Fingers crossed its condensation.

OP posts:
charliecat · 27/12/2006 20:03

You need to leave windows open a fraction in all rooms if possible, and make sure the vents are open on the windows and any vents in the walls are not blocked in.
Try not to dry clothes in the house (lol) or put a humidifier in the room where you are as well as the window open.

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 27/12/2006 20:06

mid air house Quootie?

DizzyBinterWonderland · 27/12/2006 20:09

i am imagining you live in a house on stilts quootie!

Bekks · 27/12/2006 20:19

Condensation would be on the colder outside walls, but have you looked on the outside to rule out penetrating damp from leaky guttering or downpipes or from porous bricks or crumbly pointing between bricks? My mum and dad had bad condensation in their old house, and they had polystyrene-like stuff underneath the wallpaper to insulate the walls so that they weren't so cold and the moisture in the air wasn't condensing - it seemed to help. You could just ask a builder to come around and have a look rather than paying for a survey.

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 20:20

We dry clothes in tumble drier...

Its a funny house... T shape. Like a bridge flat, but a house.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 20:22

Ill have all the guttering checked, I can check the pointing really... and if that fails, + airing the house etc. ill get it checked out, thankyou

OP posts:
mumyagain37 · 27/12/2006 20:45

Hi quootiepie, this definately sounds like condensation. There are some good advice sites around. try keeping pan lids on when cooking also and the de-humidifier advice is the best one, it really draws the damp out of the air. Another suggestion is to try and get hold of any insulation that you need, loft and cavity etc. There are some really good grants available too from your local council.
Good luck!

LIZS · 27/12/2006 20:50

Is the dryer vented to the outside or a condensor - if the latter make sure you ahve ventialtion near it and that the drawer is emptied regularly or it is plumbed in to an outlet. Similarly fit extractor fans above the cooker and in bathroom.

singsalot · 27/12/2006 22:08

my dh who knows a bit about this says that

black mould would appear to be caused by condensation (inside the house), inadequate insulation on outside walls can cause this

he has a book called "dampness in buildings" I really would like it to be anyone elses book but ours but he won't part with it, I could have a look in it for you?

Original poster
QuootiepieTheChristmasAss · 27/12/2006 22:18

Thanks for the answers...

Its definatly black, and we definatly get condensation. The nursery isnt heated and unused, and the tumble drier isnt vented out, it does its own thing somehow. Great book by the way If you don't mind having a nose, that would be wonderful. I was worried we would have £100s if not £1000s of pounds worth of work to do on the house!

OP posts:
Skribble · 28/12/2006 17:01

Tumble dryer could be adding to the condensation perhaps, any leaky gutters or pipes outside that could be causing damp too?