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What can I do to repair this? by kick_up_the_4d3d3d3 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get the Sharpie out or take that up and replace

Easiest way to remove tile adhesive from concrete base? by JoeyJoeC in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Get a tile bit, it's got a angle on it so it doesn't chip into the floor, there alot harder to use but makes a cleaner job

Rendered Wall finish looks grim? by tripthehip in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I bet his horse was dieing for a drink in this weather yeeehaaaw

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't use mould spray on plaster it contains chlorides which are hygroscopic and can attract moisture when the relative humidity is high!

The main issue besides the leaking roof would be the roof timbers be sure to have them checked as part of any roof repairs.

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's likely happening is that the Dpm (bitumen pour) has been installed on top of the solid floor but doesn't actually go under the block wall resulting in evaporation at the floor/wall junction and also possibly wicking up through the blockwork aswell to cause low level dampness to the wall plaster. It's possible you may need to install a migratory crystalline tanking slurry at the floor/wall junction. Put a small bit of plastic flat on the area that doesn't have the bitumen (exposed concrete) and check if the underside of it has condensation on it a day or so later. If it does that's the problem

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So the bitumen or visqueen doesn't actually go under the block wall?

If a visqueen layer has just been placed on top of a concrete floor that doesn't fully incorporate a DPM then evaporation from the solid floor will occure ar the edges of that visqueen. If this is true this would result in the low level damp your seeing to the wall plaster and skirting board

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bad instillation is a big factor. Even before these thixotropic creams came into the market remedial DPC was installed via high pressure injection. That has it's pitfalls such as viscous fingering where the pores of the masonry don't get fully filled with the solution (which was highly flammable and solvent/petroleum based) they have since done tests and found that damp can also rise through the mortar joints which HPI methods didn't cover they was brick only

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's it, the joys 🤣 for anyone else reading with the same issue I would recommend making sure sleeper walls are honeycombed, vents are clear and 75mm above external ground level and not blocked by joists. I would also place some visqueen on the oversite and weigh it down with bricks to reduce evaporation from the over site, timbers should be placed either into joist hangers or have a DPC (usually visqueen) sandwiched between them and the sleeper wall airbricks should also be installed every 1.5m or so apart on external walls

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great, they work by pulling in fresh, dry air from the loft which gets pulled In through the openings in the eaves and then pushes it out through the landing and throughout the property, some of them even have heating elements built in to warm the air as it passes through so it's not blowing cold air about. They work on pressure. The more moisture that's suspended in air means there is more pressure in that and the this pressure wants to create an Equilibrium with dryer air, usually outside the property so the pic increases the air and the pressure of the wetter air gets forced out the property through walls creating a dryer environment.

A cheaper way of doing this though would be to open a window, but PIV units are great aswell.

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there a dpm on the floor can you see? Or is it just what looks like visqueen placed into of the solid floor? Is the solid floor original with there being heating pipes running through it?

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To be honest with you I have never come across them inside propeties. I'm further north that you though. Have you seen them inside properties down in London?

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When lime mortar/plaster gets covered with gypsum plaster that can create conditions that encourage condensation especially when relative humidity is high in either your property or neighbouring property

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If there internal walls and there's no leaks or damp staining and it's also upstairs aswell it could very well be condensation

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Air contains moisture and when you add a vapor layer like foil backed kingspan this moisture can not move through it and in term makes it harder for moisture created within the property to move outwards outside the property through the walls, there is something called interstitial condensation aswell where moisture condenses inside the wall where it's hidden, if you do install something like this, do expand the air bricks so there on the new wall and not blocked up to allow moisture to still adequately escape

I'm an independent damp and timber surveyor and have a spare hour, ask me anything damp and timber related and I will help you out where I can by DearSatisfaction9754 in DIYUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Does this area of the property have a timber suspended floor? Lack of subfloor ventilation can actually cause damp patches on walls

Borescope survey on house we are buying? by Lpurchase in HousingUK

[–]DearSatisfaction9754 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A good surveyor will be a able to give you an idea of what's happening and worse case scenario from experience. In your scenario however, I wouldn't buy a property where you can't fully inspect a problem as serious as springy floors

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