Chimney Has rising Damp going into the wall

[middi]

Dracer, if you have used this builder before and have confidence in him/her, why don't you take their advise as to what is best, I am sure they will give you a guaranty. Do I detect an element of doubt from you regarding his advise.

 

[Moo]

Would it be possible for you to arrange a site meeting with your CO? It's quite likely that whatever solution you choose it will need Listed Building Consent, and it might be an idea to get the CO involved right at the start. Then you, your builder, and the CO would be able to bounce ideas about and come up with a scheme that solves the damp problem in a way that's most beneficial to the building itself.

 

[Dracer]

Well all brick but just the chimney; I know its difficult to explain with just text.

Think of a brick chimney built on the outside wall of a house, bodged and re built many times with a capping on the top and re flashed and vented by my builder.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes Grants whats that.

Well, I'd be interested to know from whom he thinks you will get one, hens' teeth tend to apply there also.

But I would suggest that this issue may need now some discussion with your CO, as talk of demolition may not be the best option for the building.

 

[Moo]

See? Great minds thinking alike !

 

[Dracer]

Oh he's a sweetheart, we did an extention and I have enough reclaimed bricks to do it.

Oh no you dont think I would be able to do it as a repair then?

 

[Nemesis]

As indeed would drilling holes into the wall... although I can't actually see that it solves much, just makes the injection companies richer.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Well all brick but just the chimney; I know its difficult to explain with just text.

Think of a brick chimney built on the outside wall of a house, bodged and re built many times with a capping on the top and re flashed and vented by my builder.

So the chimney's all brick, with three sides of it exposed to the outside, and it's not tied to the rest of the house which is, for the sake of argument, another material that you don't wish to reveal?

Does the chimney get wider at the base or is it straight up and down? Does it go straight into the ground as brick or is it on a plinth? is it exposed brick right down to the ground or is any of it painted or rendered?

 

[Dracer]

Gareth as mentioned earier the chimney has expandedmetal stuffed in and cemented.

but sorry all it is slightley wider at the bottom and all tree sided exposed.

It also has some type b in it too

 

[Moo]

Dracer, do put us all out of our misery and take some photos!

Without pictures, everyone is groping in the dark and can only make vague guesses. With them, you will be showered with pearls of wisdom from all quarters.

 

[Flyfisher]

How long ago was the 'crack' in the chimney capping repaired? Is it possible that the chimney and possible contents were really soaked through during the time the crack was open and it simply hasn't dried out properly yet? In which case a DPC, chemical or not, will be a waste of time and money, not to mention very intrusive to the building.

Also, talk of rebuilding the chimney further suggests that a chemical DPC is a waste of time and money. I would also be wary of calling such work a 'repair' in the hope of avoiding the need for LBC. It would be far better to discuss such things with your CO beforehand rather than being on the defensive after the event. Besides, you have a problem with your property, it's listed, and the CO has a vested interest in helping to rectify the problem in the most appropriate manner.

 

[MdB]

Dracer, an injected DPC will (if it works) stop moisture from the ground rising up into the wall. However, this moisture won't travel very far and is of the order of 200mm to 300mm. This has been proven from experiments where walls have been built in troughs of water. It sounds like your damp is showing itself at much higher levels than this which suggests that the moisture originates from somewhere else other than the ground. It therefore follows the an injected DPC is a waste of money hence the comments from other people about them.

The question then turns to where is the moisture coming from. If the chimney was damp due to it being sealed and hasn't yet dried out then all you have to do is wait. It is possible it is due to penetrating damp through the wall or maybe a fault in the chimney which is letting in rain. Alternatively, the damp could just be condensation due to the chimney being cold and next to the kitchen. There are lots of possibilities on what is causing the damp and although difficult it well worth spending some time of working out what the cause is first before looking for a solution.

As others have said, a picture would be really useful. If you need help on posting them then just PM me and I'll help.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Gareth as mentioned earier the chimney has expandedmetal stuffed in and cemented.

but sorry all it is slightley wider at the bottom and all tree sided exposed.

It also has some type b in it too

Perhaps you could actually answer the questions I asked:

So the chimney's all brick, with three sides of it exposed to the outside (that bit you've answered), and it's not tied to the rest of the house which is, for the sake of argument, another material that you don't wish to reveal?

Does the chimney get wider at the base or is it straight up and down? Does it go straight into the ground as brick or is it on a plinth? is it exposed brick right down to the ground or is any of it painted or rendered?

I really am sorry, but I'm getting a really strong sense of deja vu about this whole thread after today's events and your sudden arrival on this forum today, at the precise time you did, (which, I guess, could be another coincidence), your manner of posting and your ability to completely ignore perfectly straightforward and reasonable questions is making me rather suspicious that I have already posted two photographs of the chimney inquestion today, on another thread. May I look into my crystal ball and suggest that the chimney is of brick, built up against the outside gable wall of a timber-framed house, probably with some beams of the timber frame built into or spanning across the face of the chimney inside the house, that it stands on a stone or rendered plinth, that the section below the roof level is painted in masonry paint or rendered in cement, and that, for a height of about eight feet above the ground, it steps inwards about a quarter of an inch per course, before then going up vertically?

 

[Nemesis]

I thought it was just me... but in the spirit of being 'helpful' we are trying... I'm waiting for the pics. Should be useful.

 

[Lime]

You and me both Gareth hughes.

It is quite amusing but I'm not taking it seriously.

 

[Nemesis]

8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[Gervase]

The IP addresses of posters are available to moderators, so it would be a relatively simple matter to resolve. Meanwhile, there is a strong whiff of rodent hanging about...

 

[Nemesis]

Nay, don't say that or we will have the RSPCA onto us!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

The IP addresses of posters are available to moderators, so it would be a relatively simple matter to resolve. Meanwhile, there is a strong whiff of rodent hanging about...

I have asked Rob, but I haven't had a response yet. In the meantime, fun and games for those who wish to join in...

 

[Nemesis]

We will get locked again though...

I should be in Embra; glad now I cried off, the idea of being called both a young lady and lissom in one day is rejuvenating...