Chimney help

[dampchimney]

Can anyone advise me on my chimney. I’ve been in the property 8 years. In the living room there was Wallpaper on the walls when I moved in. After two years I redecorated and when I did, the bottom of the chimney seemed a bit damp but nothing had come through the wallpaper. So papered over it and I’ve recently stripped it again. It still seems damp but nothing had come through the wallpaper.
I’ll attach a picture. My brother has made a hole in there as there was no ventilation. So we suspected this was the problem. He did this a week ago and I’m not sure if there’s any real difference, maybe slightly if there is. I’ve drew a line around where the damp was so I could see if it was drying out. I’m not even sure who I’m meant to contact to sort it out? Any advice would be great, thank you.

I don’t know anything about this from a builder / surveyor point of view but all our unused fireplaces have a vent and grille at the bottom of the chimney as it needs to have air circulating. That hole does not look big enough

@Kattleythank you. We wasn’t sure. It’s never had a hole there but we did that one just to see. Don’t suppose you have any idea on what size it should be?

I agree you need ventilation in the chimney itself. However, I gather that old hearthsoften sit on a lump of concrete, which sits on the earth to support it. When there’s no fire regularly drying it out, or poor ventilation, that lump of concrete becomes damp from the ground. How’s the ventilation under your floors? Are all air bricks clear? Underfloor ventilation will help, but our damp guy told us to get rid of the old hearths when they’re not in use. This meant extending joists across the hole left behind so the floor was safe. I’d want a look to see if there’s rotten wood under those damp patches, too.

@MaryLennoxsScowlthank you for your reply. Also love your username! I’ve had no one out and since we’ve been here the opening has been plastered over. When we drilled the hole there were pieces of wood across the bottom which is why we drilled a bit higher up. Can I put the vent in myself? I wouldn’t mind opening it up and putting an electric fire in. Is this something for a novice though? Just taking off what’s been plastered over

Mary is right.

I presume this is on the ground floor.

Look through the hole and poke a stick through it. There might be builders rubble shovelled into the cavity, and it might be damp. Can you feel airflow blowing up the hole?

Lift some floorboards. There will be a void beneath, which should be ventilated by airflow from airbricjs, bel8w floor level, on at least two sides of the house.

Again, there might be damp builders rubble that needs shovelling out. The airbrucjs might be blocked.

It's possible water is getting into the chimney from above, but I think from the stain pattern you more likely have a source of water near the bottom, possibly from a pipe or drain. Might be gutter related. What's on the other side of the wall?

If you are thinking of unblocking the fireplace that would be a good move. You can clear it out. If damp is coming up through the hearthstone you can dig it out.

@PigletJohn hi, yeah we can feel air through the hole. I was thinking of just knocking through the plaster and creating it as an opening and just putting in an electric small fire in the opening. Then thought I’d see if it’s just a ventilation issue. It’s been the same in six years. No damp coming through the wallpaper that’s been up.
so if I just knock through the plaster that’s been put on the cover up the fireplace, there shouldn’t be any issues with a lintel should there?

Did you have the chimney swept? Is there a bird cowl on the chimney to stop birds dropping branches etc down? We fitted vents to our unused chimney breasts in the bedrooms so that they can breathe as we have wood burners in the downstairs rooms. It might be worth fitting proper vents rather than just having a hole.

There is evidently a lot of damp that needs to be sorted.

The chimney breast will not fall down if you remove what's blocking the fireplace hole. There will be a rough brick arch.

@Diversionnever had it swept as been here 8 years and it’s always looked like that. It does have a cowl at the top though.
@PigletJohnwho do I get in about the damp?

Depends what the cause is. If you know which end of a hammer to hold, lift some floorboards and see what you find. Look behind the boarding. Photograph the other side of the wall.

Do not allow anybody who sells silicone injections, ceramic tubes or magic plaster near your house.

@PigletJohnive lifted up the carpet surrounding it and its not damp. The other side of the chimney breast is the stairs and nothing there. Also got an under stairs cupboard and nothing there. I’ve made a bigger hole for a vent. So i
going to see if more ventilation helps in the next few weeks. It’s only a small chimney so I’m not going to be knocking through. I’ll put a vent in and put an electric fire in front instead. But just want some confirmation on why it feels a bit damp in those areas.

Lift floorboards, look underneath. By the fireplace and under the stairs. Water pipe may run there.

And is there damp rubble in the old fireplace?

@PigletJohnFloors are all concrete. Not damp inside either.

Ah.

How old is the house?

@PigletJohni think 1950s

You can get moisture meters quite cheaply. They’re useful to have and will put your mind at rest.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=moisture+meters&adgrpid=166494257728&gad_source=1&hvadid=772383276946&hvdev=c&hvexpln=69&hvlocphy=9046607&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=10500242717144857767--&hvqmt=b&hvrand=10500242717144857767&hvtargid=kwd-10379870&hydadcr=28150_2435380&mcid=72e203705ef635e0ae97a92de2a81c1e&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_718n3jixm6_b_p69

Your picture is showing a band of damp along the bottom of the chimneybreast, about a foot high. The shape does not suggest condensation. IMO it is coming up from the floor.

It is noticeable that the plaster on the front of the chimgrybreast appears to have been renewed. This might have been after removing an old fireplace, or it might have been to conceal damp.

I would expect a 1950's house to have been built to a good standard and free from damp when it was new. It is unlikely to be built on a pond or stream.

Where is the water coming from? Insufficient info to know. It is worth remembering that pipes often leak after 70 years.

Look for other patches of damp, and identify the route the pipes and drains take between where the kitchen used to be when the house was built, and where the front gate used to be when the house was built. Find the external and the internal stopcock.

Have you got a water meter, and can you obtain a young person with sharp hearing?

Do not allow anyone who sells silicone injections near your house.