What is this? Damp?

[Eslteacher06]

Moved into my Victorian terrace in summer and noticed the paint 'bubbling' off the wall. It's in the dining room where the chimney breast is (chimney was blocked last year due to leak and husband has checked the chimney area in the loft and said it feels dry).

Is it damp? Clearly painting it again will make no difference. How can I treat it? Any help would be great!

We had mysterious patches like this (love to know what caused it as no water source nearby) Our painter used a couple coats of damp seal before painting which stopped it coming back.

The pinky coloured plaster underneath looos still wet.
If the leak saturated the wall it can take up to a year to full dry.

I wonder if blocking the chimney is causing it? Can you get a damp company in to survey it?

Id get 2 or 3 builders in to have a look to see where it is coming from. Could be anything from leak in chimney, outside walls needing repointed, dripping pipe etc.

Last time we had it first builder said £4k to fix roof leak and damp rot in loft. 2nd said chimney needed removed ££££s. 3rd said he had a look and there was some concrete rubble on the lead flashing round the chimney which was causing a bridge for the water to get in, he removed it while up there and there was nothing wrong in the loft, just needed to dry out because it was wet. Didn't ask for money so we just bunged him £50. Never had a problem again.

Almost daren't ask builders to come in incase they say it's ££££ of damage. I guess, as you say, it's best to get a few in?

The wall isn't wet to touch and the ceiling in the bedroom above also has water stains (but wall is fine). We repointed the ridge tiles in the summer as they had no cement. The chimney was completely removed btw, not so much blocked. There are no missing slates.