Penetrating Damp

[Bold Seagull]

We live in a 1920's brick cavity built house which is showing signs of some serious penetrating damp through the West side manifesting itself as staining coming through the plaster.

This has happened in a smaller isolated incident on the East wall whereby I removed some bricks internally and cleared debris from the cavity (there were some large lumps of mortar that had collected on the insulation).

On the West wall the damp is far more widespread and not isolated to a single bridge point across the cavity. We had the insulation blown in when we moved in in 2005, and I am concerned that the insulation has become saturated, and with some build up of dust and particles it's causing a much larger bridge across the cavity.

Any experts out there, or recommendations for experts that could come out and quote for remedial works to correct the issue please?

Many thanks.

 

[cardboard]

http://www.heritage-house.org/insulation-causes-damp.html

I have the same issue - its the cavity insulation thats the cause. Wish i never had it done.

 

[red star portslade]

We live in a 1920's brick cavity built house which is showing signs of some serious penetrating damp through the West side manifesting itself as staining coming through the plaster.

This has happened in a smaller isolated incident on the East wall whereby I removed some bricks internally and cleared debris from the cavity (there were some large lumps of mortar that had collected on the insulation).

On the West wall the damp is far more widespread and not isolated to a single bridge point across the cavity. We had the insulation blown in when we moved in in 2005, and I am concerned that the insulation has become saturated, and with some build up of dust and particles it's causing a much larger bridge across the cavity.

Any experts out there, or recommendations for experts that could come out and quote for remedial works to correct the issue please?

Many thanks.

name: Giles Walker
address:
Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3AG

telephone: 01273 688561


mobile: 07725 028393
email: waterproofsystems@gmail.com

 

[dougdeep]

Cavity wall insulation was the best investment I ever made in my house. It's cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. Just saying.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

1920s cavity walls were the original cavities so ancient technology.
The worst wall is probably the one that gets the wettest from driving wind and rain.
As you said you have bridging caused by fallen masonry and the original metal spacers have rusted or now non existant letting moisture through from the outside.
My only advice is to check the outside walls for cracks in the bricks and pointing broken gutters and downpipes or cracked and blown rendering.
Even the smallest cracks will let in a lot of water especially in this very wet winter.
If you stop moisture getting in then over the course of the summer it should dry out.
If it does'nt then it is a big and expensive job to put it right.

 

[Albumen]

Filthy.

 

[Bold Seagull]

1920s cavity walls were the original cavities so ancient technology.
The worst wall is probably the one that gets the wettest from driving wind and rain.
As you said you have bridging caused by fallen masonry and the original metal spacers have rusted or now non existant letting moisture through from the outside.
My only advice is to check the outside walls for cracks in the bricks and pointing broken gutters and downpipes or cracked and blown rendering.
Even the smallest cracks will let in a lot of water especially in this very wet winter.
If you stop moisture getting in then over the course of the summer it should dry out.
If it does'nt then it is a big and expensive job to put it right.

Thanks. This is what I have done in the past. We have had wall ties replaced, and rendering done to the East wall. You are right, it is on our West wall at the South corner which gets the absolute brunt of the weather. It also does have old render which is blown in places which I can see, and I suspect at the same time I'm going to need to replace wall ties to this wall as well.

I have just contacted CIGA (Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency) as my insulation was guaranteed for 25 years. My installer should have carried out a thorough survey of the cavities prior to installation which I don't believe they did. I may well have the expense of a rendering and wall ties, but wondering if the insulation on this elevation should be removed at the same time.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Interesting, my house is the same age and I've been pondering whether to get cavity insulation put in. The only reason I haven't yet is the risk of damp developing in the narrower cavities, this is exactly the type of ballache I don't want to end up with!

 

[phazza]

We live in a 1920's brick cavity built house which is showing signs of some serious penetrating damp through the West side manifesting itself as staining coming through the plaster.

This has happened in a smaller isolated incident on the East wall whereby I removed some bricks internally and cleared debris from the cavity (there were some large lumps of mortar that had collected on the insulation).

On the West wall the damp is far more widespread and not isolated to a single bridge point across the cavity. We had the insulation blown in when we moved in in 2005, and I am concerned that the insulation has become saturated, and with some build up of dust and particles it's causing a much larger bridge across the cavity.

Any experts out there, or recommendations for experts that could come out and quote for remedial works to correct the issue please?

Many thanks.

i've had a structural engineer look at my house for the same problem. although i have cavity insulation and these walls weren't designed to have it, the engineer thinks it's best to stop the water getting through the outer wall too much. my pointing isn't great so he says, to get the wall repointed. he thinks that should be enough to sort it. as it needs doing i am going to do that. if i get the same problem next year i may have to take the insulation out. the thing is, the insulation does a good job in keeping the heat in. if it comes out, it will be colder and there is then a risk of condensation - albeit thats not as bad as the damp iv'e got now!! lets hope the insulation dries out enough and the repointing helps.
good luck with yours

 

[The Wookiee]

http://www.cavitech-uk.com

Give these guys a call, ask for Jeff

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Thanks. This is what I have done in the past. We have had wall ties replaced, and rendering done to the East wall. You are right, it is on our West wall at the South corner which gets the absolute brunt of the weather. It also does have old render which is blown in places which I can see, and I suspect at the same time I'm going to need to replace wall ties to this wall as well.

I have just contacted CIGA (Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency) as my insulation was guaranteed for 25 years. My installer should have carried out a thorough survey of the cavities prior to installation which I don't believe they did. I may well have the expense of a rendering and wall ties, but wondering if the insulation on this elevation should be removed at the same time.

Thanks for the advice.

Just to give you some background, a few years ago I took a 3 year course in surveying specialising in damp and infestation. My project for the final exam was a total survey of a 1920s house.
When you get back to the company its best you have as much info as possible, but I apologise if you know most of this anyway.
Firstly you confirm the age of the house, from that they should know the construction of the cavity for that age.
They then drill some test holes and use a camera to look inside the cavity for its condition. They would have found rusty ties, the damp travels across them to make a bridge. Other ties will have rusted away altogether and there will be rubble at the base of the cavity, when this gets damp it will rise up the wall to about 2 metres.
They should have known that the cavity is very thin (unlike today) and therefore bridging and damp penetration occurs much more quickly.
They should then inspect the exterior wall for cracks etc.
You should have been informed of all the problems found and advised of the work needed to be done before insulation or not to go ahead with it at all.
With those problems you would have only got penetrating damp in certain places where it was bridged, but installing insulation without remedying the problems first has effectively bridged the whole wall as the rainwater has crept in and gradually soaked all the insulation.
This very wet winter has speeded up the process.
This is just advise and you may have other problems but I doubt it.
Good job its guaranteed I would get them back and ask serious questions along these lines and find out if they are now liable to repair the lot including damage to both interior and exterior walls and replace the insulation (if you want it done)
Good luck.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Just to give you some background, a few years ago I took a 3 year course in surveying specialising in damp and infestation. My project for the final exam was a total survey of a 1920s house.
When you get back to the company its best you have as much info as possible, but I apologise if you know most of this anyway.
Firstly you confirm the age of the house, from that they should know the construction of the cavity for that age.
They then drill some test holes and use a camera to look inside the cavity for its condition. They would have found rusty ties, the damp travels across them to make a bridge. Other ties will have rusted away altogether and there will be rubble at the base of the cavity, when this gets damp it will rise up the wall to about 2 metres.
They should have known that the cavity is very thin (unlike today) and therefore bridging and damp penetration occurs much more quickly.
They should then inspect the exterior wall for cracks etc.
You should have been informed of all the problems found and advised of the work needed to be done before insulation or not to go ahead with it at all.
With those problems you would have only got penetrating damp in certain places where it was bridged, but installing insulation without remedying the problems first has effectively bridged the whole wall as the rainwater has crept in and gradually soaked all the insulation.
This very wet winter has speeded up the process.
This is just advise and you may have other problems but I doubt it.
Good job its guaranteed I would get them back and ask serious questions along these lines and find out if they are now liable to repair the lot including damage to both interior and exterior walls and replace the insulation (if you want it done)
Good luck.

Thank you, really helpful, I will bare this in mind.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Knock it down and start again

 

[Sloe Joe]

Some one I know had their personal basement gym flooded because of defective tanking - they are in floods of tears

 

[TopCat]

Have a similar situation in my place - built in 60s with cavity wall insulation done 10 or so years ago by previous owners. Pointing does look a little ropey. Is re pointing likely to sort the few patches of damp or is it likely the wall cavity will need to be checked too?
Ps... I love NSC. Nowhere else in the world would it be possible to laugh at palace fans getting angry at people wearing Cantona masks then the next moment be asking for DIY advice

 

[dstanman]

Any more views for a reputable firm covering the Brighton area to cure some damp / black coming through the exiting plaster. Want to get sorted before decorating.

 

[BLOCK F]

Very sceptical about retro fitted wall insulation due to possibility of damp.
So is Jeff Howell who writes in the Sunday Telegraph.He's on about it again today.Have a read.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Cavity wall insulation was the best investment I ever made in my house. It's cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. Just saying.

The cavity is designed to stop water penetrating the inner wall, not the outer wall. hence why cavity trays are fitted above windows & doors.
Water is expected to be within the cavity. This is why cavity insulation is now recognised as not a good idea, it causes more problem and costly damage than the benefit of insulation.
You are just not aware of the damage it is causing your property. if your renting then you have no worries, if you own it then one day your in for a shock.
Just saying.

 

[Stoaty Ferret]

name: Giles Walker
address:
Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3AG

telephone: 01273 688561


mobile: 07725 028393
email: waterproofsystems@gmail.com

Good shout. Giles did my place 2 years ago and is a cracking bloke. He won't rip you opff unlike a lot of damp companies out there. Avoid Vandex as a solution.