Office wall

[MetManMark]

All
We noticed some damp on the wall adjoining the office of the house we have just bought. I have previously posted about this and am starting to do undertake the actions people have suggested (lowering the height of the ground outside etc). On closer inspection it appeared as though the external office wall was actually a thermo-lite wall that had been erected just inside the original outside wall. I removed this wall as I thought it was probably impeding air flow - and indeed the airbricks that had been installed between the two walls and then in the fireplace that lay beneath were blocked up. the original outside wall was also rendered with some sand and cement plaster. This pealed off when it was touched and exposed a coat of black sticky paint stuff - presumably bitumen sort of stuff that had been added as an attempt to stop the damp. This goes up to about 3 or 4 feet.My question is should we use a wire brush or something similar to remove this attempt at tanking? From what I understand we should try to let air at the wall and to let it breathe - so we thought we would re-plaster with lime but presumably we need to get it back to the bare stone / brick first?
Cheers
Mark

 

[Schoolmarm]

You may end up having to rely on the wall breathing outwardly after lowering ground levels.

Not sure how difficult bitumen is to remove completely.

 

[Moo]

A link to Strippers of Sudbury is called for here, I suspect.

 

[Penners]

Yup: http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/I_want_to_remove.htm

 

[AMc]

My question is should we use a wire brush or something similar to remove this attempt at tanking? From what I understand we should try to let air at the wall and to let it breathe - so we thought we would re-plaster with lime but presumably we need to get it back to the bare stone / brick first?
Cheers
Mark

Go easy and don't rub away hard if the brick is damp as it may be very soft if its saturated.
If you can remove it mechanically the I would - if a chemical stripper will do a more complete job depends on what you're hoping to put it over it later but I would start with a wire brush and if you get to a firm surface with lots of bitumen then make a choice at that point if you need to get rid of more.