DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Ive recently bought a 3 story house with other half and theres alot of damp.

We have stripped the wall paper off kitchen wallpaper all damp. The walls are now drying out alot there were about 4 layers of wallpaper in kitchen .Theres also no extractor fan and the previous owner had a dryer. This may have caused damp.

The back reception room is very damp going about a ft up can see no salt in plaster.Plaster crumbly by window.

Front reception room wallpaper very damp walls damp .Taken off wall paper couple days ago walls alot drier now. The front reception has couple problems the first being the door is cracked and frame is cracked this lets water in and we have to put towels down and move carpet up to stop getting wet.

The 2nd problem is the pointing is in a very bad way outside the front reception and front bedroom and both of these rooms have flaking plaster.

3rd problem is there is timber pieces little bits used as a covering for front garden these are right up to the front of house and ive lifted them up and seen the first and second layer of bricks with green moss on and chipped bricks and pointing very bad.

Been quoted 980 for full front 3 story house pointing and 530 for brand new upvc door.

How much more is this going to cost me? Was thinking of doing these little jobs and seeiong if the damp goes. hOUSE WAS BUILT 1950

SUZY XX

SUZYBABE,
Given the age of your house it is likley that is has cavity walls and a sound DPC.
Internal dampness is therefore more likely to be caused by condensation rather than water ingress so try ventilation first. Well done removing existing wall coverings.
Pointing the front is rather difficult, if this is to be done up 3 storeys then scaffolding should be used, the cost of scaffold is unlikely to be under £500 which does not leave a lot for a proper repointing job (this should include raking out the existing mortar, cleaning out, damping the wall and repointing).
end

stoneyboy wrote:SUZYBABE,
Given the age of your house it is likley that is has cavity walls and a sound DPC.
Internal dampness is therefore more likely to be caused by condensation rather than water ingress so try ventilation first. Well done removing existing wall coverings.
Pointing the front is rather difficult, if this is to be done up 3 storeys then scaffolding should be used, the cost of scaffold is unlikely to be under £500 which does not leave a lot for a proper repointing job (this should include raking out the existing mortar, cleaning out, damping the wall and repointing).
end

The walls seem to be drying out nicely since i took the wallpaper off. The floor still seems a bit damp {floor is cement and tiles} The kitchen walls have dried out now except for a bit of stickiness.

Got the new door and pointing being done end of the month. Im only being charged 180 for scaffolding and 800 for pointing job. Good local firm and seen some of their previous work.

Wonder if the wallpaper could trap condensation ? Only on minimum wage so very tight budget.

little room under stairs has got very lose plaster and crumbley dry bricks at bottom {this is where they had a dog living and befor that had cats living under there so smell of urine which has gone with vinegar and water.

Thanks for info