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Leaky walls and mould

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 1:58pm
10 replies370 views4 members subscribed
Karima

Posts: 8

Joined: 23 Apr 2019

Hi, we have a problem of water penetrating our walls, causing paint to peel and encouraging mould growth.  We need someone to assess what the problem is and what can be done to repair this. Has anyone had a similar problem?  How did you resolve it?

Thanks.

Karima

Cheryl

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:54pm

Cheryl

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Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:54pm

Hi Karima, could you give a few more details such as type of property (detached villa?), does it have a tiled surround and does it slope away from the property, is the damage at the bottom of the walls and is the property your permanent home or is it left unoccupied for long periods? Also, do you have heating and is it on all external walls or mainly behind furniture?

Karima

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:52pm

Karima

Original Poster

Posts: 8

Joined: 23 Apr 2019

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:52pm

Hi Cheryl, here are my replies to your questions:

Could you give a few more details such as type of property (detached villa?)

  • It is a townhouse complex of attached units.

Does it have a tiled surround and does it slope away from the property?

  • On the side where the damage occurs, there is no tile covering, but it does slope away. 

Is the damage at the bottom of the walls?

  • The damage is at ground level and below, as the room is in the cellar.

Is the property your permanent home or is it left unoccupied for long periods?

  • It is a second home, which is idle for much of the year.

Also, do you have heating and is it on all external walls or mainly behind furniture?

  • No, the heating does not reach the room downstairs where the damage is.

Does this answer all of your questions?

Thanks.

Karima

Cheryl

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:51pm

Cheryl

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3533 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 8 Jun 2017

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:51pm

Hi Karima, my first thing would be to ask your neighbours if they have the same problems and if they have overcome them. Other than that, there is probably rising damp as not many properties here have a damp proof course. Rain may be soaking in to the ground where there is no tile surround (as this directs water away from the wall, especially where there is no guttering) and then soaking through.
It is very humid here and if there is no air flow or heating, the moisture will stay in the walls and cause mould and deterioration and where properties are closed up for long periods it just makes it all a lot worse.

If you search "What can I paint on my basement walls to stop penetrating damp", there are a few diy options explained.
I hope you manage to get it sorted.

UKHandyMan4Hire

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 6:40pm

UKHandyMan4Hire

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Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 6:40pm

Just to add to the very helpful advice from Cheryl, it is very common in the region for such problems, it is typically why the first 1M or so of most properties has some sort of granite or tiled facade.

The key advice I would offer is prevention is better than cure, however, it will not be cheap to do all the necessary DPC work. But, in the absence of that, the results from the search Cheryl suggested will help. 

Hope it helps

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jimtaylor

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 5:07am

jimtaylor

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Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 5:07am

Any product which is painted on will probably not last long, as the damp will just force it off. Possible solutions include, as Will said above, stone cladding, or you could tile it but using flexible tile adhesive rather than the usual tile adhesive, or render it with a waterproof tanking compound. Given its location, I suggest you also consider some form of forced ventilation.

Karima

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:31pm

Karima

Original Poster

Posts: 8

Joined: 23 Apr 2019

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:31pm

Thank you, all, Cheryl, UKHandyMan4Hire, and Jim. Based on your comments and further reading, here are our thoughts:

  • We are in an end unit, and the damp is happening on the end, where there are no neighbours. Therefore, our misery seems to have no company, as none of our neighbours have been complaining of similar issues.  
  • Originally, we thought it was a rather simple problem of water coming through a window that was not properly sealed and/or drained.  After addressing the window, repainting and noting more extensive effects, not only at the window, but also much farther away, we realise that this is not a simple situation. Therefore, we would like to get consulted by a professional, who can help us get to the root cause and fix/mitigate the real problem.
  • QUESTION: Do you know of a reputable, local damp expert (similar to Environ), who could come out and assess the situation for us?
Thanks.Karima

jimtaylor

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:42pm

jimtaylor

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Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:42pm

I don't know of any damp specialist, but I've only ever seen good reports about the following:

Don Aluminio Building and Reformation.
Telephone number
Rob 642325054
Email [email protected] 

UKHandyMan4Hire

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 3:07pm

UKHandyMan4Hire

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Joined: 22 May 2018

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 3:07pm

Karima - There may be an issue of an ill-fitting window, it is not uncommon! This is usually noticeable by the 'bubbling' of the internal paintwork close to the bottom corners of the 'sill' You would also probably notice staining in a similar place on the outside wall.

Typically though, this is the fact that there will be no damp proof course (DPC). Sadly, the people who I have done work for expect you to just scrape off the flaky paintwork and paint over it... simply does not work and I now refuse to just do that as it reflects badly on my reputation!

That said, some folk are happy just to keep up the scraping nad painting year on year. I appreciate the budget can have a big impact on decision making.

In addition to the lack of DPC, Cheryls point is very valid about any property that is locked up for long periods of time as well as any lack or poor ventilation.

Once you get the matter resolved please post back for other users to benefit as I know this will be a recurring theme!

Best wishes on your journey :o)

Karima

Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 12:37pm

Karima

Original Poster

Posts: 8

Joined: 23 Apr 2019

Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 12:37pm

Thanks, Jim.  We will give them a try.

Karima

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