We have damp exterior walls and don't know if we need a builder, surveyor or roofer we have tried to remedy

Question

Brought an old cottage with damp problems that were promised to be fixed and to our knowledge they were. Chimney rebuilt, damp coarse done,all the usual the survey told us the damp upstairs due to poor ventilation in chimney but they had put pots on with tile covers so it could breath. Had to wait for it to dry out brought dehumidifier drying out a treat. Then winter came heavy rain water dripped through ceiling don,t know wher from roof fine. Then damp appears on inside partition wall. Ripped out built in wardrobes innext room walls damp. We have rerendered the chimney watersealed it flashin & rooftiles are good. We recapped the unused outside chimneys with flat topped terracotta pots with vents in sides. Watersealed whole house dampseal painted the inside walls and its started coming through again but worse the walls are now wringing wet did we do wrong with the capping or is it the walls that are porous its single brick rendered & over 100yrs old house. We're unsure wher to get help

Answer 1

you really need a damp proof specialist to look at your house.

Answer 2

Sounds like the vendors promises to fix the damp problems are the root of your concern. I would take issue with the vendors via your lawyer or conveyancer. Check if the promises were made in writing.

I suggest you also ask your lawer that if you have a case against the vendor you will need to have a report compiled by a Chartered Building Surveyor (go to www.rics.org to select a surveyor) His report should detail the faults, remedies and costs associated with the remedies. With this, you should have the basis of a claim against the vendors. Pursue through the Small Claims Court (seek advice from Citizens Advice Bureau).

In terms of the damp problems, you make no mention of heating or ventilation in the cottage. The dampness may well be due to condensation caused by excessive moist air condensing on 'cold' single skin brick walls. The fact that a dehumidifier cured your problem temporarily would reinforce this. Try installing some extract fans in kitchen and bathrooms. Open windows to allow ,trickle, ventilation, avoid drying washing indoors. Heat the rooms as best you can but avoid portable heaters that are parafin or oil burning as the emit too much moisture during combustion.

Best of luck

Answer 3

Your problem could come from many sources, it could be a leaking pipe within a wall, it could be condensation, it could be interstitial condensation where humidity forms within a cavity (such as a chimney flue).

It is no good speculating or asking the wrong people to comment, you need a market leading company with a good reputation to carry out a thorough inspection and diagnosis.
You can arrange this free of charge through a respected national company via the site below. You can also see pictures and read descriptions of related problems.

Answer 4

Hi,I understand your problem, what you need to do is to stop spending money on people who don't know what they are doing!!!
Find a local good builder who can find the problem and sort it, don't fire fight it costs more. ventilation in chimney,don't understand that one! sounds like you need to seal the face of the outside wall or re-point brick work, can be loads of thing but fixable.

Answer 5

I saw a programme on TV I think it was about old cottages being rendered, apparently they are supposed to breathe, and any rendering should be REMOVED.
I would suggest that you contact English Heritage and ask them for more information.

Answer 6

Sell old cottage. Buy new house with NHBC guarantee.

Answer 7

u might wanna try usin some pva or some other high strentgh glue mix it in with ur paint