Low level rising damp in an old house

[safccfas]

Need the advice of the SMB builders ….

House I’m looking to buy has got low level rising damp in a couple of areas. One is an outside wall the other is an internal wall. Didn’t realise you can get damp in internal walls !

When I’ve asked what this is / means etc the response I’ve been given over the phone (there’s a report being sent out apparently) is that there’s a few isolated areas that have damp spots just above the skirting board, not full on rising damp but a couple of spots along skirting boards.

When I’ve done a quick google search a chemical treatment seems the least intrusive way to sort it rather than adding a membrane to a full wall?

Any expert advice on best approach and idea on cost ?

 

[Ned Land]

AVOID

 

[jackynutmeg]

Must be an old house then?

 

[safccfas]

AVOID

I’d rather not as I really like it.

 

[LondonBlackCat]

Step one would be to establish if it is actually rising damp, it's probably the most mis-diagnosed issue with houses. If your surveyor has just stuck a damp meter into the wall I'm afraid that's not nearly definitive enough.

 

[safccfas]

Must be an old house then?

Over 100 years old. Big old Victorian terrace. Lots of original features still like fire places, coving in rooms and hall ways.

 

[Brian Griffin]

Rising damp is pretty rare I think. Worth a second opinion?

@Gillythedilf

 

[safccfas]

Step one would be to establish if it is actually rising damp, it's probably the most mis-diagnosed issue with houses. If your surveyor has just stuck a damp meter into the wall I'm afraid that's not nearly definitive enough.

It was a specialist survey because of the age of the house. My mortgage provider insisted on it after the first / standard mortgage survey was done.

 

[jackynutmeg]

Check the air bricks arent blocked anarl.
The first house I bought had damp but a lot of it was down to the previous owner blocking the air bricks up.

Over 100 years old. Big old Victorian terrace. Lots of original features still like fire places, coving in rooms and hall ways.

Aye, similar to the first one I bought

 

[LondonBlackCat]

It was a specialist survey because of the age of the house. My mortgage provider insisted on it after the first / standard mortgage survey was done.

See what the report says and how it was diagnosed (again sticking a moisture detector into the wall may well show it's damp but not why) but I'd be checking that any air bricks present haven't been blocked as @jackynutmeg says.

Is there anything splashing on the external walls which could cause moisture penetration? Have the walls been rendered in a manner which means they are no longer permeable and trap any internal moisture?

For the internal wall, is it possible there's a pipe with a pinhole leak or any other source of moisture?

 

[tenpins]

It was a specialist survey because of the age of the house. My mortgage provider insisted on it after the first / standard mortgage survey was done.

Where is the property?

 

[Ned Land]

I’d rather not as I really like it.

Make a big financial decision using your head not your heart.

Over 100 years old. Big old Victorian terrace. Lots of original features still like fire places, coving in rooms and hall ways.

They look nice but they’re an expensive pain to heat and maintain.

 

[Space Hopper]

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[humbug]

Make a big financial decision using your head not your heart.

easier said than done mind,

 

[Ned Land]

easier said than done mind,

Yes, s/he has had a red flag already.

Some people are enamoured by a selling point and are blinded to structural issues.

The kitchen is nice but the roof is shite!
The fireplace is stunning but the rest of the house is draughty!
The windows are nice but ventilation is horrendous!

Etc.

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There’s probably a skeleton in the attic!

 

[dangermows]

A bit of damp is certainly no reason to swerve the purchase. Especially as you don't know the ins and outs yet. Old houses do come with issues like this. The offset is they are much better, especially if they have originally features etc.

 

[cornish mackem]

Step one would be to establish if it is actually rising damp, it's probably the most mis-diagnosed issue with houses. If your surveyor has just stuck a damp meter into the wall I'm afraid that's not nearly definitive enough.

Internal could be condensation too. We have recently moved from an old place which really didn’t like modern living.

 

[EDGE]

Ask Neil Marsden Damp Specialist
.

 

[Butcher's Coat]

Ask Neil Marsden Damp Specialist
.

Neil knows the score. Top man.

Need the advice of the SMB builders ….

House I’m looking to buy has got low level rising damp in a couple of areas. One is an outside wall the other is an internal wall. Didn’t realise you can get damp in internal walls !

When I’ve asked what this is / means etc the response I’ve been given over the phone (there’s a report being sent out apparently) is that there’s a few isolated areas that have damp spots just above the skirting board, not full on rising damp but a couple of spots along skirting boards.

When I’ve done a quick google search a chemical treatment seems the least intrusive way to sort it rather than adding a membrane to a full wall?

Any expert advice on best approach and idea on cost ?

Have a check on all of the guttering and downcomers/drainpipes.
If they are U/S - then the external walls will be getting overly wet and saturated.

 

[Ned Land]

A bit of damp is certainly no reason to swerve the purchase. Especially as you don't know the ins and outs yet. Old houses do come with issues like this. The offset is they are much better, especially if they have originally features etc.

You’ve made some tremendous generalisations.