Gloucestershire House
Member
- Messages
- 7
- Location
- Gloucester
Hi,
I have recently self-diagnosed a range of damp problems in our Victorian semi, and I'm now looking for some advice. As well as penetrating damp along 2 external walls, we've also had damp on 2 internal walls - the party wall, and the section of wall directly opposite on the stairwell.
The space under the stairs in divided into 2. The first section is a 2 metre (ish) deep pantry accessible from the kitchen. Behind this, however, is a sealed space (done by previous owners) of the remaining stair space (roughly 2 metres again).
The first sign of trouble came a few months ago - through a crack between the wall, the bottom step, and the door frame, an alien-like white tendril peeped its head. I carefully removed this, and sprayed some anti-fungal bleach spray (into the hole). Clearly there was a problem.
In the pantry, I had put up some (admittedly over-engineered, and way too deep) floating shelves. We were getting mould / mildew growing on the plywood battens, that must have been wicked through from the brick - which was wet(ish) in places when I original drilled holes, but I was naive at that point. I cleaned and bleached the battens, but clearly that wasn't a permanent solution. Meanwhile, the fresh paint I had applied had started to discolour.
This led me to remove the gypsum plaster, to let the brick walls breathe! These are currently drying. I will later re-point with lime, and repaint with a lime-based paint.
However, this led me to poke a hole through the plasterboard blocking off the sealed section under the first half of the stairs (where the mould had sprouted). Please see the attached pictures. There's some signs of mould growing down the far end, and there was quite bad mould growth on the removed skirting boards (pictured) in the accessible part of the pantry.
The proper solution (I think)
Remove shelves. Remove plasterboard divider. Take up concrete tanking (?). Fungal wash bricks. Inspect wood and replace anything rotted. Treat rest. Let whole area dry and breath. Put ventilation in on stairs. Re-do floor maybe with limecrete etc...
Bodged solution
Given the time/effort/money involved, and our expected stay in the house, I'm inclined to go for a less invasive approach.
Make new hole in board at top of pantry to inspect more. Use lance sprayer / maybe mop pad on pole to clean bricks with fungal wash. Do same to apply anti fungal /rot /woodworm treatment to wood on bottom steps. Let all dry out, fan, dehumidify etc.
I am reluctant to take up carpet on bottom steps and remove treads to access, as this seems like it may allow the spores out to spread / more risky for inhalation etc?
Then add ventilation - 2 louvre vents in pantry through board, then grille in bottom stair.
Does this sound like a sensible solution? I would be very grateful for ideas and inspiration.
Thanks a lot
I have recently self-diagnosed a range of damp problems in our Victorian semi, and I'm now looking for some advice. As well as penetrating damp along 2 external walls, we've also had damp on 2 internal walls - the party wall, and the section of wall directly opposite on the stairwell.
The space under the stairs in divided into 2. The first section is a 2 metre (ish) deep pantry accessible from the kitchen. Behind this, however, is a sealed space (done by previous owners) of the remaining stair space (roughly 2 metres again).
The first sign of trouble came a few months ago - through a crack between the wall, the bottom step, and the door frame, an alien-like white tendril peeped its head. I carefully removed this, and sprayed some anti-fungal bleach spray (into the hole). Clearly there was a problem.
In the pantry, I had put up some (admittedly over-engineered, and way too deep) floating shelves. We were getting mould / mildew growing on the plywood battens, that must have been wicked through from the brick - which was wet(ish) in places when I original drilled holes, but I was naive at that point. I cleaned and bleached the battens, but clearly that wasn't a permanent solution. Meanwhile, the fresh paint I had applied had started to discolour.
This led me to remove the gypsum plaster, to let the brick walls breathe! These are currently drying. I will later re-point with lime, and repaint with a lime-based paint.
However, this led me to poke a hole through the plasterboard blocking off the sealed section under the first half of the stairs (where the mould had sprouted). Please see the attached pictures. There's some signs of mould growing down the far end, and there was quite bad mould growth on the removed skirting boards (pictured) in the accessible part of the pantry.
The proper solution (I think)
Remove shelves. Remove plasterboard divider. Take up concrete tanking (?). Fungal wash bricks. Inspect wood and replace anything rotted. Treat rest. Let whole area dry and breath. Put ventilation in on stairs. Re-do floor maybe with limecrete etc...
Bodged solution
Given the time/effort/money involved, and our expected stay in the house, I'm inclined to go for a less invasive approach.
Make new hole in board at top of pantry to inspect more. Use lance sprayer / maybe mop pad on pole to clean bricks with fungal wash. Do same to apply anti fungal /rot /woodworm treatment to wood on bottom steps. Let all dry out, fan, dehumidify etc.
I am reluctant to take up carpet on bottom steps and remove treads to access, as this seems like it may allow the spores out to spread / more risky for inhalation etc?
Then add ventilation - 2 louvre vents in pantry through board, then grille in bottom stair.
Does this sound like a sensible solution? I would be very grateful for ideas and inspiration.
Thanks a lot