Spending on repairs with fingers crossed.

[Tootsiroll]

We have had an issue with water somehow getting into our house since we first moved in back in January and we've never truly found the cause of. After getting the roof, render, and windows checked and ignoring some very iffy advice from a damp specialist we decided to get the windows, fascia boards and gutters replaced because quite frankly, we don't know what else to do.

There was some nasty rain this past winter in Wales where people had actual house destroying floods...they have real issues....I have an inconvenience...but I broke down in tears today because I've convinced myself this problem isn't going to get fixed.

Deep down I know we've bought a bit of a lemon and I've made my peace with that, the previous owner wasn't doing maintenance and in some cases literally painted over the issues but I know there's potential here and the location is close to perfect so I've made the best of it. I thought I was coping quite well but then last week we got a call from the window company with a date and all of a sudden I started to get consumed with negative thoughts.

The thing is, there's no plan B, we're spending money on repairs without even knowing what the cause is. What do we do if this doesn't work?

Stop the work, is what you do, that's madness. How long have you been there? How is this damp presenting itself?

We got the keys in December and moved in in January.

The water is presenting beneath the front bedroom window. If you can imagine a window, beneath it is the wall, go straight down to the skirting board, lift the floorboard and put your hand underneath, water is dripping down. The wall above is dry and the window is sealed. There are no pipes, it's a solid Victorian wall with good render and no cracks. It's causing issues in the room below.

We had an ex window fitter come round (friend of a friend) and he thinks water is somehow getting into the frame and working it's way down and out. He checked the weep holes, did a fix but said if it didn't work then it was time for new windows.

Now we did intend to get the windows replaced, the fascia boards and gutters were ok but were going to need replacing at some point so we thought to do it all in one go.

There's so many big things we need to do, the front living room needs the entire floor taken up and replaced, new plasterboard walls in the landing and back bedroom, the bathroom and kitchen are an embarrassment, tons of plastering...

I've convinced myself this isn't going to work, that the water will still get in and the damage downstairs will continue. We can't move on to other issues until this one is fixed as it's the one causing actual damage.

"...it's a solid Victorian wall with good render and no cracks. It's causing issues in the room below"

OP - pause the windows for now, they don't sound like they are the problem.
There must be an old leaking pipe somewhere that is causing this. The other problem is can see is the render - what is it? If it is cement then your solid brick walls will not be able to dry out.

"the front living room needs the entire floor taken up and replaced, new plasterboard walls in the landing and back bedroom, the bathroom and kitchen are an embarrassment, tons of plastering..."

Why? A Victorian single wall does not want plasterboard walls, that will cause damp. Why does the floor need to come up? tons of plastering will be pointless until your house can breathe and dry out.

Are you on Facebook? If so join the Your old house conservation and repair UK group - there are experts on that from your area that will be able to advise better than me.

Does it get worse when it rains and dry out when it is dry?if not then it isnt a leak in an external wall/window/roof and it has to be a pipe leak from somewhere. External leaks nornally dont drip water unless it is actively raining or has only just stopped raining.

BI'm 100% sure it's not a pipe, there simply aren't any there or anywhere near that area. We know it's rain water but everyone is completely confused as to how it's getting in. The wall above and around the window is bone dry, the window itself looks fine, the outside is more silicone than frame now. The render isn't cracked, there's no gaps, chips or signs of damage anywhere let alone near the window. The gutters dont overflow, the roof is fine, no damage or missing tiles. When it rains though, I have a metal pan under the floorboards to collect the water because if I don't it goes down the wall, into the living room and ends up under the floorboards. It's almost like water is traveling through some sort of internal channel in the bricks that leaves the outward face of the wall completely dry!!

Everything else....well. the front room joists are turning to dust in some places or rotting where water from upstairs is getting them wet. The internal walls and plaster etc are just in a poor state of repair, we're eager to get things done but can't do anything until the water ingress is sorted.