Help with damp in dining room

[Sweett00th]

We’ve just moved into our end of terrace and after painting first coat in dining room noticed patches of damp in bottom corner on outer wall, we knew there was bits of damp in survey but wondered what we can do to sort out. Are there any experts?

Attached photos. Thanks 😊

My first port of call would be to look at the wall outside and see if there is anything obvious that

Oops - sorry.... To see if there is anything obvious outside that could be causing it. Something up against that wall for example, a broken gutter causing rain to come down on to the wall, or if the ground has been build up so it covers the damp proof membrane.

It's either coming through damaged brickwork or your damp proof course in that area of the room has failed and it's rising up from the ground.

Either way, you'll need a builder or damp proof company to advise you on fixing it.

If you have insulation in that wall the water could be getting in and soaking a patch of it at the bottom. Mine had to be sucked out as it was wet.
House isn't noticeably colder now it's gone.

You need to call a damp proofing company in, that’s really quite bad and will turn to mould.

Have you checked the air vents outside? If they are blocked by anything or even blocked in which had happened to dd’s house that can cause damp. They unblocked it and damp disappeared.

be very careful with damp proof companies. ,They will tell you any old shit to make you spend loads

www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/managing-damp-in-old-buildings.html
this will be of interest

@toomanyspiderplants

be very careful with damp proof companies. ,They will tell you any old shit to make you spend loads

That’s not my experience if you get a reputable one.

Thanks, I’ve checked outside, no leaks but there is green moss growing outside bottom side of house so have scrapped that off. The other wall, outside there are pebbles all along foot up against the wall. There is air brick, I’ll brush that it. It’s not covered. I’ll give that a go.

I usually go on checkatrade for trades people, did have one company come look they suggested damp proof course for £400. I’m uhmming and aahhing they seem reputable and said it’s 20yr guarantee but wonder if necessary

Damp proof companies have an interest in selling damp proofing products. You need someone who is experienced in damp issues in older houses (assuming your house is old?) to have a good look around and find the cause. It could be many things - ground level outside too high/built up over the years, failing pointing, leaks from gutters/underground water pipes, wall mounted pipes etc.

@Sweett00th

Thanks, I’ve checked outside, no leaks but there is green moss growing outside bottom side of house so have scrapped that off. The other wall, outside there are pebbles all along foot up against the wall. There is air brick, I’ll brush that it. It’s not covered. I’ll give that a go.

I usually go on checkatrade for trades people, did have one company come look they suggested damp proof course for £400. I’m uhmming and aahhing they seem reputable and said it’s 20yr guarantee but wonder if necessary

Did they suggest what is causing the damp? how old is your house?

Pics of the outside please, where its mossy plus full wall.

Such a lot of water is probably coming from a gutter or downpipe leak. Stand back and take wider photos, especially of the outside, all the way up to the roof.

You can be certain that chemical injections will not repair leaks.

Hi photos outside, I’ve scrapped the moss off side. There is no leaking

which picture shows the outside of the corner with the big wet mark?

The plinth is wet along the bottom. Scrape back the gravel please and show us the brickwork and soil. Do you know where the DPC is?

Please show the point where the downpipes enter the ground.

this picture

www.mumsnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/large-517771-5f3626ff-2441-4284-a1d1-21d059028e19.jpeg

shows moss growing on the top and front of the soil pipe. Moss needs constant damp.

It is most likely dripping from the gutter above.

@PigletJohn

which picture shows the outside of the corner with the big wet mark?

The plinth is wet along the bottom. Scrape back the gravel please and show us the brickwork and soil. Do you know where the DPC is?

Please show the point where the downpipes enter the ground.

The last two photos are the wall with corner of damp.

If you look at the guttering above the mossy pipe there appears to be a something hanging over the edge. Looks like a bit of roof tile. But whatever it is, I would guess the guttering is clogged up and the water overflowing down the wall when it rains.

Oh yea I can yay about see it so would you say that’s connected to damp. Is it worth getting guttering cleaned up abs move tile.

Yes.

Thanks, hopefully that’ll sort out.

Can you stand back and take a wider pic of the outside of the wet corner, please.

Scrape back the gravel.

It might just be from the gutter spill running down, or there might be something else.

See if you can locate the DPC.

Here’s pic of outside window with gravel usher back

I can't make that out.

Looking at the bottom of the wall, is it brick exposed? Or the render?

it looks very dark and probably damp.

if you scrape it back some more, see if it gets any drier when left exposed to the air.

Put a plate or tray under that downpipe. Does any water drip off it?

Can you see the DPC?