Losing the Will To Live - Damp Damp can be a major issue in the home. Find answers to questions or post your own here.

[Hopeful 2468]

Damp - first floor wall below the bedroom window and part way up each side, also spreads sideways away from the window. We have spent a fortune trying to solve this damp problem. When it rains, 2 or 3 days later the wall is not just damp but wet. The windowsill is dry, there is no mould around the window.
This is what we have tried so far:-
1. Window specialist - checked the window, said it was fine; resealed the whole window and sill (top, bottom and both sides) with CT1 sealant. Drip grove cleared. DAMP STILL A PROBLEM.
2. Damp specialist - diagnosed penetrating damp. The whole of the front of the house and sills have been painted with Storm Dry. DAMP STILL A PROBLEM.
3. Wall cavity insulation specialist - Had the cavity wall insulation removed/sucked out, this was soaking wet and was done 3 months ago. Even after using a dehumidifier, when it rains the wall becomes wet again. DAMP STILL A PROBLEM.
4. Roof specialist - Roof and gutters fine.
I have attached photos of the damp inside and what the house looks like at the front from the outside.
Is there anyone out there who can help?
Thanks

[stoneyboy]

Hi hopeful2468,
When the window specialist looked the window did they check the condition of the external rubber seals.
You can do a prelim check by pushing the glass unit outwards, if it moves at all suspect the rubbers are gone, allowing rainwater to get into the frame which will have weep holes in the bottom. If mould is present between the rubber and the glass this will also allow water penetration.
Regards S

[Hopeful 2468]

Hi Stoneyboy,
Thanks for the reply. The rubber seal and the glass have been checked and there is no movement. The guy who removed the wall cavity insulation put a camera in and said that the stone windowsill was sitting on the exterior wall but also touching the inner cavity wall. Is this normal should the windowsill be in contact with both walls?

[stoneyboy]

Hi hopeful2468,
Thanks for the further information.
When the roof specialist looked at the roof did they lift any tiles to see if there is an underslaters felt, it’s condition and whether it has been taken into the gutters?
Regards S

[Hopeful 2468]

Hi Stoneyboy.
Thanks for replying. All they said when they went up and looked was that everything was ok?? I may need to have someone look again. Could a roof leak cause damp to appear in the places shown in the pictures? There is no damp at the top of the walls. Could the inside of the sill touching the interior wall cause a problem or are sills meant to sit across both?
Thanks

[stoneyboy]

Hi hopeful2468,
Sills should be part of the outer brick skin so no they should not be bridging the cavity. Concrete sills are not very porous so it is unlikely that this is the cause of your problems.
If you have underslaters felt this is intended as a second line of defence against water ingress. The felt should start in the gutter and then be in overlapping bands up the roof and over the ridge. Given the age of your property you probably have sarking felt which degrades on its bottom edge. The edge then drops into the cavity space and any water getting through the tiles higher up is fed into the cavity.
Your first move is to look in your loft and see if you have felt under the tiles. If yes get someone in to lift the tiled edge above the window and to look at the condition of the felt.
Regards S