Condensation? or failed damp proof?

We are not sure which way to go with this problem. We bought the house 3 years ago and the survey said there was damp in the corner. The corner is at the bottom of the stairs, is north facing and outside the level of the floor is slightly too high. The garden near to this corner is also very boggy. We paid for a damp specilist to come and they said there wasn't a problem.

Over the last 3 years it has been getting worse. The plaster on the inside has been damp and the wallpaper has been peeling. We also get a black mould on the skirting. We do have a condensation problem generally in the house and since last winter we have been running a dehumidifier in the hallway near to the problem.

We have had the guttering sorted in that corner of the property and a new down pipe to drain more of the water away from the corner. The water board have fixed a leak in the main pipe outside our house last year, so that could have been contributing to it all. We did have the corner of the house repointed last year, but the pointing has come out again and the bricks are now looking shabby and seem to be crumbling just under the dpc. There is a tide mark upto the dpc level on the outside. The plaster has now blown on the inside and has crumbled. During the winter, I noticed that under the carpet the floorboards were damp.

We are just unsure where to turn to for advice, (we have tried in the past, and most think it's condensation). Has anyone got any ideas of where we could get the advice we need?

Thanks

How far below the dpc does the ground level start? It should ideally be at least 6 inches above ground level, but also be below the internal floor level. It could be that the outside ground level needs lowering in order to stop damp from penetrating above the inside floor level of the house. You may also need some internal damp proofing.

Condensation problems are usually due to a lack of ventilation in the house, particularly if you usually dry your wet clothes inside while leaving your windows closed when doing so (the water has to go somewhere). Putting some airbricks and vents around the house may help with this problem.

Hope you get the problem sorted.

Thanks Kaye2812. I think we need to have the floor level lowered outside against the house, but wasn't sure if that was causing the problem internallly or whether it's condensation. I guess we should start with getting that done and see how it goes.

Being in the corner makes it seem more likely to be condensation. if the problem was rising damp it would be at its worse at the bottom and gradually get less damp up to a metre high. There is a company called dower tekron based in chapeltown who will come and test it, and tell you exactly what it is. He is a very honest fella.

I am so suspicious of people who advioate damp proofing. It is usually something from outside or a leak of some kind. If you stand a brick in water, the water doesn't rise. When I had damp in the bathroom, it was because the outside path was above the dpc and it was permeating through the wall.

Be careful of specialists wanting to sell you solutions. Try some paint first.

I agree,but i recomended this company because i have delt with them in the past and found him to be a very honest guy ,who would look at all the possibilitys to find the cause. By the way if you stand a brick in water for long enough it will most certainly rise.

Being in the corner makes it seem more likely to be condensation. if the problem was rising damp it would be at its worse at the bottom and gradually get less damp up to a metre high. There is a company called dower tekron based in chapeltown who will come and test it, and tell you exactly what it is. He is a very honest fella.

I would avoid Dower Tekron like the plague!

Pigster assuming you know him personally could you please tell him to get in contact with the chap who's been hounding him for the past 9months? (Hopefully I'm the only one!)

Give John a ring at Cannon Damproofing, he will be able to give you advice 07411916577, 01226289670

Just to add anothe voice to the dower tekron suggestion... I had damproofing done by them, and I can't get a response either to up[hold the guarentee they gave me as my property is damp yet again. The number is not accepting calls. Looks from the companies house website that they aren't responding to their requests either and they are seeking to strike them off.

Just to add anothe voice to the dower tekron suggestion... I had damproofing done by them, and I can't get a response either to up[hold the guarentee they gave me as my property is damp yet again. The number is not accepting calls. Looks from the companies house website that they aren't responding to their requests either and they are seeking to strike them off.

I believe they have gone into liquidation I'm afraid.

there's a test you can do to determine if it's condensation or damp getting in from outside

take a piece of glass and edge it with plasticine, and push it in place over the problem area. Leave it for about a week, and if it gets condensation on the outside of the glass, it's a condensation problem, and if the moisture accumulates behind the glass it's damp

hi,

where are you in sheffield?

we can call round and give you no obligation advice.

regards badger

phone 07971988089