Wet patch on wall

[Lilboots]

Baby homeowner here. I'm on the top floor of a Victorian conversion and know that work was done to the roof earlier this year, before I moved in.

After rain today, I've just noticed a big wet patch on my wall, near to where I know the downpipes are.

So, idiot questions:

1. Is there anyway to tell whether it's the roof or the gutter that's the problem?
2. Who do I call to sort it? The roofer who was here earlier in the year?
3. I should leave my heating on round the clock for now, yeah?

Thanks in advance x

Damp specialist? I have a similar one and been procrastinating but I think I need to get a damp company in.

Definitely guttering check first (this was an issue at the front of our house - poor join to neighbours guttering causing water ingress on one patch). Plenty of companies offer gutter cleaning and repairs, or the roofer should be able to do it (although sometimes harder to get them for small jobs!).

I'd check the pointing - if the mortar is crumbling it may need replacing (this is what caused similar damp patches on the back and flank walls of our house). For a victorian property you need someone who uses traditional lime mortar - modern cement mortar is harder than the old bricks & can cause more issues.

No personal experience of damp specialists but I'd be wary if they try and sell various damp treatments without identifying and solving the root cause.

Thanks both, that's really helpful!

Is you gutter/downpipe broke. Water could be soaking the wall outside and that might be the problem. Have a look outside when you get a chance and see if the drain pipes/gutters have come loose. You might see water on the outside wall. I has damp because I put these window box (sort of coconut mesh ones in a metal type of rack) outside my window and they were too close to the wall, so when in rained the soaking mesh wet the outside wall and eventually the plaster inside as so as I took the cause of the damp away it was fine...I did have to dry it out and replaster the area though.

It's a flat. Go to the Managing Agent.

Presumably you pay a service charge. That should pay for the gutter clearance and any roof works.

Don't try and sort it yourself.

What dalrympy said

@dalrympy

It's a flat. Go to the Managing Agent.

Presumably you pay a service charge. That should pay for the gutter clearance and any roof works.

Don't try and sort it yourself.

The owners have right to manage so we'll need to sort it, but I'm still glad I won't be meeting all of the bill myself! Hopefully the others arent as clueless as me 🤣