Stains?

[Olican]

Evening all! Got an email from a relative back in Wales asking for advice on some stains on their wall, wondered what you guys thinks. Email read as follows;
Hi Oli, as discussed on the phone, I have taken pictures. This was once the inside of an outside wall built about 1810 which is at least 3 foot thick it became a inside wall when the kitchen was built about 1920. It is not damp as you know it is stone built and first appeared about 2 years ago.

 

[Olican]

I know the pictures dont reveal much but apparently the walls are solid and every time they paint over the stains they reappear and are starting to spread

 

[flynnyman]

gotta be damp, looks like damp maybe something wrong with the roof

 

[Olican]

That was my first thought but stains are half way up the wall on ground floor and first floor walls seem to be unaffected. its a very old cottage and walls are very thick

 

[The Apprentice]

Looks like damp, might be an ideato get it checked with a damp meter before you rec any action.

 

[carlos]

gotta be damp, looks like damp maybe something wrong with the roof

As said, best to find the cause of the damp and stop it at source.

Then hack off batten out and board with foil back plaster board and skim.

 

[bigsteve]

If it's on the bottom floor it could be rising damp it might need. A dpc doing ???

 

[keithuk]

May have been patched up with carlite bonding ,that can show wet on old work

 

[Olican]

Ive recomended that he gets a damp meter which he is going to tomorrow. thanks for your replies

 

[keithuk]

Get a good damp firm in ,for a free survey and see what they say

 

[Olican]

good shout keith, have passed your suggestion on. The other query they have is if it is not damp then what else could it be, I guess a good damp proof specialist could answer that.

 

[flynnyman]

Tell him not to waste his money on a damp (wrong word but easier to just say) meter, it will get a reading but so will putting it on you kitchen cupboards. Something has caused it, forget rising damp (its a myth), forget foilback boards they wont get rid of the problem they will just make it show up elsewhere. Get on the roof first or if there is a window above it check the sill and around the window.

 

[Olican]

thanks Flynny, sound advice

 

[keithuk]

good shout keith, have passed your suggestion on. The other query they have is if it is not damp then what else could it be, I guess a good damp proof specialist could answer that.

We know it is not rising ,it is now an inside wall so not penetrating ,unless there is a water pipe in the wall ,i think it could be carlite as it does look like a patch up ,best of luck with it mate

 

[bubbles65]

You say it is now an inside wall................Is that because a single story extension has been added perhaps?

 

[Olican]

Thats right, single story extension built on about 20 years ago, had a new roof put on about 8 years ago. roof was inspected recently

 

[bubbles65]

You need to make a barrier for the remaining wall (above the extension roof)
I believe SBR might be required :RpS_thumbup:

 

[superspread]

Try lime ,lets it breath.