justin1970
Member
- Messages
- 17
We've just bought an 1891 terrace in Worthing and there is a patch of damp in the kitchen, which is the back room of the house. The floor in the kitchen is recently tiled, which suggested to me that the floor masy be concrete rather than the timber of the rest of the property, although all the buildings in the terrace have the same rear construction which suggests this is not an extension but original.
The last owner also recently installed some double patio doors where once there was a window, and there ae then three steps down to ground level (approx 2ft) into a rear yard which is wholly concrete. The damp is at the skirting level next to the newly installed doors (ie 2ft above exterior ground) and where the wall is newly rendered (probbaly not using lime render) on the exterior. The rainware seems in good order, but there is a crack about 10mil across above the patio doors, extending as high as first floor level, I would assume from resettlement when the UPVC doors were installed.
Yesterday I drilled out space for an airbrick 6 inches above ground level through the 9 inch brick and was suprised to find what feels like gravel behind the brick where I expected the crawl space. I pulled out one pebble which could have come straight from the beach - its the size of my fist.
I understand the problem is likely to be the cause of several things, ie no airbricks at all at the rear of the property (hence why I put one in...) the concrete rear yard and the crack, but before I put in a matching air bricka nd break my back trying to get through that stone I wondered if anyone could tell me if I have wasted my time and the airbrick will be ineffectual. There is space behind it, I've drilled plenty deep, but if it backs onto gravel (?) will it dry out the wall above?
I've tried to be as accurate as possible but I'd love some advice - I had planned to pop in a couple of airbricks then this summer crack up and remove the concrete in the rear yard, and paint the rear wall of the house. Is there anything else I could do?
The last owner also recently installed some double patio doors where once there was a window, and there ae then three steps down to ground level (approx 2ft) into a rear yard which is wholly concrete. The damp is at the skirting level next to the newly installed doors (ie 2ft above exterior ground) and where the wall is newly rendered (probbaly not using lime render) on the exterior. The rainware seems in good order, but there is a crack about 10mil across above the patio doors, extending as high as first floor level, I would assume from resettlement when the UPVC doors were installed.
Yesterday I drilled out space for an airbrick 6 inches above ground level through the 9 inch brick and was suprised to find what feels like gravel behind the brick where I expected the crawl space. I pulled out one pebble which could have come straight from the beach - its the size of my fist.
I understand the problem is likely to be the cause of several things, ie no airbricks at all at the rear of the property (hence why I put one in...) the concrete rear yard and the crack, but before I put in a matching air bricka nd break my back trying to get through that stone I wondered if anyone could tell me if I have wasted my time and the airbrick will be ineffectual. There is space behind it, I've drilled plenty deep, but if it backs onto gravel (?) will it dry out the wall above?
I've tried to be as accurate as possible but I'd love some advice - I had planned to pop in a couple of airbricks then this summer crack up and remove the concrete in the rear yard, and paint the rear wall of the house. Is there anything else I could do?
