Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1497811995 Message started by joetheeskimo on Jun 18^th, 2017, 7:53pm

Title: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by joetheeskimo on Jun 18^th, 2017, 7:53pm

Hi All

I am looking at buying a victorian house. We have fell in love with made an offer got rejected, made another one, got accepted now we have got a home buyers survey being completed this coming week.

I have seen the house now twice but on the second viewing i noticed what looks like damp under the stairs. The whole has is wall papered and was owned by an old couple who have now passed away. None of the wall paper looks like it is peeling.

It has been dry weather for last two weeks so my observations now are from a dry period.

I smelt the wall in question and couldnt smell anything however there is black marks on the wall.
The wall felt cold, it is in the shade all day outside, however it did not feel wet.
Below pictures show what i see. also shows the exterior wall as well.

Is this damp, is it curable etc.
what are my options etc.
[gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811769.jpg[/gallery]
[gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811770.jpg[/gallery][gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811771.jpg[/gallery][gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811772.jpg[/gallery][gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811773.jpg[/gallery][gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811857.jpg[/gallery]
[gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811858.jpg[/gallery]
[gallery]joetheeskimo/1497811859.jpg[/gallery]

Title: Re: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by thescruff on Jun 18^th, 2017, 10:29pm

Yes that's damp so could be several things, although I'd worry about the recent repair/alterations to the soil pipe/drain.

Title: Re: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by joetheeskimo on Jun 20^th, 2017, 9:29pm

thescruff wrote on Jun 18^th, 2017, 10:29pm:

i would worry about the recent repair/alterations to the soil pipe/drain.

that is the next door neighbours drive. i beleive they have just had their drive brick paved, thus why there is some kind of modification. Prehaps they broke the existing pipe during thier drive installation.

Eithey way there is cracked render just behind so that will need to come off and be repaired prior to any damp proof injections

Title: Re: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by thescruff on Jun 20^th, 2017, 9:50pm

You'll need to dig along the wall to see if the ground is wet and note any problems

Title: Re: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by woodsmith on Jun 21^st, 2017, 8:32am

I would check to see if they have raised the level of the drive next door. If they have just fitted the paviors on top of the old drive they may have compromised your damp proof course. Also check to see if they have sloped the drive in the direction of your wall, this would carry all the rainwater in your direction and would need a strip drain fitting ( at their expense)!

Title: Re: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by CWatters on Jun 28^th, 2017, 12:00am

Just a heads up...

It might not affect you but these days rendering a house amounts to changing an insulating component and makes the work notifiable to Building Control who in turn can insist that the house be insulated to a certain minimum standard at the same time.

In short its not always possible just to render a house - you might also need to add wall insulation. Not hard if it's a cavity wall but lots of work if it's a solid wall.

Title: Re: Cracked Exterior Render and Possible Damp
Post by londonman on Jul 5^th, 2017, 9:23pm

CWatters wrote on Jun 28^th, 2017, 12:00am:

Good point but I question the 'not hard'. Which cavity wall retro-fit would you recommend the OP ?