Paint peeling and bubbling on ground floor - how to treat damp?

[Sobloodytired09]

When we bought our house a few years ago, the survey said it picked up damp on the ground floor external walls and on an internal wall. The vendor paid for damp proof injections, and when we moved in and went into the larder, there was peeling paint and what looks like fluffy white stuff (which I think is efflorescence). There was a large vent that was boarded as well as the hob hood, so we thought it might need airing and unblocked these. We plastered the living room, but on the outer wall the paint keeps cracking and falling off and near the window behind the pipes there is efflorescence. That has also come back in the kitchen larder.

Does anyone know what might be causing this? The house is 1930s and I think might need some repointing but I'm just guessing. The bricks on the outside seem to have a lot of white on as well. I can take some pictures and try and upload.

Any help would be really appreciated, thank you

White on bricks can be a sign of a leak. Could there be leaking pipes in the wall?

If you think it needs repointing definitely do that.

Yes, post some photos.

It's probably a leak.

Is there a concrete floor, with an old water pipe under it?

Have you got a water meter?

How old is the house?

Chemical injections do not repair leaking pipes or broken drains.

Get a good independent damp surveyor (not a free one from a damp proofing company) in.

He/she may suggest a leak survey depending on what they find.

Honestly though, we persisted with various traditional solutions but got the best result by using damp proof membrane and plaster boarding over the top. It’s also relatively inexpensive to do and we never have to worry about damp again.

Hi I have attached pictures of the peeling paint in the living room, thank you for the messages.

There are floorboards in the living room, and tiles over (I think) concrete in the kitchen @PigletJohn. We have a water meter which has gone up slightly but that has been since we have had a baby, and we are using a lot more water. The house is late 30s.

The pipes aren't in the walls if that makes sense

How did you do that @Porridgeislife please? Is it a damp specialist or a builder etc?

Thank you for your responses, I really appreciate it

Hopefully the pictures should attach here

A plaster & decorator can do damp membrane, they’re pretty straight forward to install.

We found even after we treated damp it was ways touch and go with respect to salts and flaking paint - the joy of a period basement flat.

www.permagard.co.uk/advice/damp-proofing-walls

& we haven’t had any decoration spoilt since we bit the bullet and installed the membrane.

Can you stand back and take some wider pics of the whole wall, down to floor level, indicating where the damp patches and the efflorescence are, please.

Have a look at your water meter (you may have to bale out the pit).

Is there a (blue?) T-handle, and is there a glass window with an air bubble turning in it?

Is the damp mostly in the kitchen with the concrete floor?

Are the outside walls damp? Near the ground? Can you see the DPC?