Bridging damp

[discobarry]

Evening all, has anybody got any good tips on how to deal with bridging cold? The best I can think of are breathable paints so it doesn't go moldy around the cement pointing in the bedroom window. Also should it be cement pointed to the sides of my windows considering it isn't very breathable? We sleep with windows open as much as possible but it's difficult when cold and snowy.

 

[TheForge]

Evening Barry,

I'm not quite clear what the problems you're trying to cure are? A photo might help.

Breathable paints won't cure a damp or condensation problem or make the wall much warmer. In fact their organic content might even encourage mould growth.

In a solid wall cement will almost always be colder than lime, possibly because of potential moisture trapped in the wall or it's inherent latent heat capacity . I'm not exactly sure why but on several walls in our house where we have partially re plastered in lime you can feel a temperature difference to the touch between the lime and the cement.

 

[MatthewC]

I would guess that cement pointing around the windows has come away from the windows (or wall, or both) - if it hasn't it soon will if you have a breathable house! Water then gets in through the crack, hence the damp and cold feeling, and the mould. I suggest you temporarily fill any gaps with mastic for now, but replace cement with lime mortar when (if!!) the weather improves.

 

[discobarry]

Sorry for been a little vague, I'm talking about the cement pointing our window installers finished the edges of the windows off with. I'll upload a pic soon.

 

[discobarry]

Sorry for the delayed reply. I'm the first pic this is the mould growing in the cement pointing which at the edges of the window has been pointed white.


Below that in the second pic is the pointing towards the centre of the window and this never gets wet, could it be the paint then?

 

[TheForge]

I'm not sure I'm totally clear on what the second picture shows but it looks like condensation on cold exterior surfaces might be the problem.