Hopeless@DIY
Member
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- London
Hi everyone.
Recently purchased a Victorian semi-detached house. Damp was picked up during survey and we got an independent damp surveyor to come in to give us some advice. In hindsight, most of it was fairly straight forward stuff but useful for a first time (house) buyer nonetheless.
The main issue seemed to be blocked gutters on the side-alley presumed to be overflowing during high rainfall, which has made the brickwork damp overtime.
Hence one of the first things I have done is get the gutters cleaned and also the chimney flaunching repaired on seperate days.
I'm not sure if it is just coincidence but it seems since the chimney flaunching has been repaired the damp has been worse in the house? eg humidity levels around 60-63%.
It seems that the chimney flaunching was repaired using concrete over the brickwork around the chimney. I wonder if that could have 'trapped' in the moisture somewhat or whether it is completely unrelated.
Other observations - it seems on milder days the damp is worse? Is this because the humidity levels outside are generally higher making any ventilation less effective, given the less material difference in water vapour pressures?
We don't have any leaks coming from any bathrooms. We use a tumble dryer instead of hanging clothes out to dry. We also have two dehumidifers that seem to have been quite effective. I have not been using these as much recently - perhaps because it seemed like the damp was not such an issue - but perhaps I need to keep using these dehumidifers in different parts of the house just to keep internal conditions dry.
One of the other key recomendations the surveyor had was building a French wall in the side alley as the ground levels are higher then the assumed DPC - this seems to be quite a common supposed problem. Has anyone had success with a French wall in allieviating damp? It seems it could be an option worth looking at but I am hoping that with the gutters maintained and the house adaquately warmed / ventilated that the damp issue will allievate over time....
If anyone has any additional pointers I would be grateful.
Thank you.
Recently purchased a Victorian semi-detached house. Damp was picked up during survey and we got an independent damp surveyor to come in to give us some advice. In hindsight, most of it was fairly straight forward stuff but useful for a first time (house) buyer nonetheless.
The main issue seemed to be blocked gutters on the side-alley presumed to be overflowing during high rainfall, which has made the brickwork damp overtime.
Hence one of the first things I have done is get the gutters cleaned and also the chimney flaunching repaired on seperate days.
I'm not sure if it is just coincidence but it seems since the chimney flaunching has been repaired the damp has been worse in the house? eg humidity levels around 60-63%.
It seems that the chimney flaunching was repaired using concrete over the brickwork around the chimney. I wonder if that could have 'trapped' in the moisture somewhat or whether it is completely unrelated.
Other observations - it seems on milder days the damp is worse? Is this because the humidity levels outside are generally higher making any ventilation less effective, given the less material difference in water vapour pressures?
We don't have any leaks coming from any bathrooms. We use a tumble dryer instead of hanging clothes out to dry. We also have two dehumidifers that seem to have been quite effective. I have not been using these as much recently - perhaps because it seemed like the damp was not such an issue - but perhaps I need to keep using these dehumidifers in different parts of the house just to keep internal conditions dry.
One of the other key recomendations the surveyor had was building a French wall in the side alley as the ground levels are higher then the assumed DPC - this seems to be quite a common supposed problem. Has anyone had success with a French wall in allieviating damp? It seems it could be an option worth looking at but I am hoping that with the gutters maintained and the house adaquately warmed / ventilated that the damp issue will allievate over time....
If anyone has any additional pointers I would be grateful.
Thank you.