Test yourself on damp identification (and help me out in the process!)

[jgc1457]

Hi all,

I hope it's OK for me to post this on this forum as I'm not a plasterer -- I'm someone who's just moved into a 1905 house that has more than a few damp issues, and I reckon a forum of plastering professionals will be able to identify some of the problems that are worrying me sick.

I've uploaded some photos of moulds or rots that I've found under carpets and lino that I took up at the weekend. The floors in question were really, really damp and I've had windows open and heating on over the last couple of days to start the drying process out. But can you help me tell what I'm dealing with, and how best to get rid in each case?

Thanks so much in advance,
Jodi.

 

[flynnyman]

Nothing to worry about how long was it empty? May of had a leaking pipe or drain that runs under the kitchen floor, check your drains with a hose.

 

[jgc1457]

Hi Flynnyman, thanks for the reply -- it's not been empty at all (well, a few days between the sellers moving out and us moving in) -- but every flat surface had been covered in either carpet or lino, and the carpet that we removed from the floorboard photos had a weird underlay that had plastic film on both sides of it, so the floor was basically sealed against any moisture escaping! The floors had been covered like that for at least 12 months, possibly 18. Do none of the moulds look sinister? We're terrified that one or more of them are dry rot.

 

[tcd]

Looks like the place has been sweating ie no ventilation, most of the mould can be washed away with a fungicidal solution, I would also recommend a de-humidifier rather than heat at the moment,

 

[jgc1457]

Hi TCD, thanks for the suggestion -- I looked at dehumidifiers from a local hire company, they have ones that are about £150 a week including VAT. If I hired one of those and ran it for a week, am I right in thinking that I wouldn't need a domestic dehumidifier running all the time afterwards? (Assuming of course I don't put the cause of the problem back, ie. the carpets and lino!)

 

[flynnyman]

Hi TCD, thanks for the suggestion -- I looked at dehumidifiers from a local hire company, they have ones that are about £150 a week including VAT. If I hired one of those and ran it for a week, am I right in thinking that I wouldn't need a domestic dehumidifier running all the time afterwards? (Assuming of course I don't put the cause of the problem back, ie. the carpets and lino!)

Looks quite normal what your finding get the dehumidifier in for a week and then open the windows whatever you do, don't ring a damp company, if you want to part with a few grand I will have it

 

[tcd]

you should know better after running it for a week with the amount of water its drawing from your property, as its an old house it may be a good investment to buy a second hand domestic one and put it in different rooms to make sure all dampness is eradicated and as flynnyman says don't ring a damp company

 

[jgc1457]

Haha thanks for the advice, I've been reading on a few different websites what a con the damp companies are -- injecting water-based chemicals into walls to overcome damp caused by... water! I've got a joiner coming to identify why some of the floorboards are a bit springy, as long as none of those photos look like dry rot then I'm happy. Thanks everyone for your help with this, putting my mind at rest

 

[Dropsalot]

Dry rot needs moist timber to survive. It has a very specific “window” in which it will spread. The mycelium will push through brickwork trying to find timber to consume- the fungus thrives on timber of the right kind/ moisture sucking the goodness from it and leaving it- well, dry......hence the name. Yours looks like a wet rot. The simple cure is to remove the “wet”.
Uncover, introduce warm air flow, do not trap the warmed air, open the windows and set it free. Sweep up the salts and the mycelium.
Don’t panic. It will take time to dry out.

 

[jgc1457]

Hi Dropsalot, thanks for the reassurance, my blood pressure is returning to normal! Am I right in thinking a good course of action is to keep the central heating on (low-ish) and as many windows as feasible slightly open? Also, I've been told that lighting the fires (we have two open coal fires) is good because it draws moist air away -- would you agree?

 

[Dr.B]

Hi Dropsalot, thanks for the reassurance, my blood pressure is returning to normal! Am I right in thinking a good course of action is to keep the central heating on (low-ish) and as many windows as feasible slightly open? Also, I've been told that lighting the fires (we have two open coal fires) is good because it draws moist air away -- would you agree?

Heating and ventilation,spot on[emoji106]


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[jgc1457]

Thanks, good to know the place is on the road to recovery!

 

[Irish John]

Thanks, good to know the place is on the road to recovery!

Any updates on the road to recovery.
As mentioned heat and ventilation are important ( going forward as well )

 

[stuart23]

Hi all,

I hope it's OK for me to post this on this forum as I'm not a plasterer -- I'm someone who's just moved into a 1905 house that has more than a few damp issues, and I reckon a forum of plastering professionals will be able to identify some of the problems that are worrying me sick.

I've uploaded some photos of moulds or rots that I've found under carpets and lino that I took up at the weekend. The floors in question were really, really damp and I've had windows open and heating on over the last couple of days to start the drying process out. But can you help me tell what I'm dealing with, and how best to get rid in each case?

Thanks so much in advance,
Jodi.

Don't know about your damp but you've got loads of coins lying about the floor, could put them towards cost of fixing problem.

 

[rlcleary1]

I would get someone in to have a look not a internet damp plastering specialist!!!


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[jgc1457]

Morning all, and thanks for the tip Stuart23 -- it's a pity they weren't pound coins seeing as there are quite a few of them

We've had a joiner in to examine the wood floor, as well as a tiling restorer and both have said we're not looking at dry rot, which is a huge relief. They couldn't identify for sure what kind of wet rots we've got, but I'm not too fussed about knowing exactly what they are -- as long as they're wet rot, and therefore treatable with fungicide and drying out, I'm happy.

The tile chap recommended a product called Fila Deterdek for getting rid of the salt effloresence (if that's the right word) on quarry tiles, and the joiner has said we need a couple of new joists and possibly re-boarding the floor, but not before we've sorted the cause of the damp, and that's the biggie.

We had a builder round who did the usual "you don't want that, you want this" -- he then recommended an injected DPC so he was politely shown the door. (Well, figuratively, as we were standing outside at the time). We've already identified where the problems most likely lie: some failed mortar on a wall which gets all of the north Wales weather, and a lack of airflow in the subfloor -- so all we need is some repointing and some air bricks, or possibly a ducted underfloor fan to move air around and get the humidity down under the floor.

The bottom line seems to be that we *don't* have dry rot, which is a massive relief, and a big thanks again to everyone on here who reassured me that was the case.

 

[flynnyman]

I would get someone in to have a look not a internet damp plastering specialist!!!


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You mean a salesman or conman?

 

[Pagey]

What a nice OP and someone with a bit about them and taking the advice

 

[Dropsalot]

I am sure I speak for all here, when I say “happy to help”.

 

[tcd]

Morning all, and thanks for the tip Stuart23 -- it's a pity they weren't pound coins seeing as there are quite a few of them

We've had a joiner in to examine the wood floor, as well as a tiling restorer and both have said we're not looking at dry rot, which is a huge relief. They couldn't identify for sure what kind of wet rots we've got, but I'm not too fussed about knowing exactly what they are -- as long as they're wet rot, and therefore treatable with fungicide and drying out, I'm happy.

The tile chap recommended a product called Fila Deterdek for getting rid of the salt effloresence (if that's the right word) on quarry tiles, and the joiner has said we need a couple of new joists and possibly re-boarding the floor, but not before we've sorted the cause of the damp, and that's the biggie.

We had a builder round who did the usual "you don't want that, you want this" -- he then recommended an injected DPC so he was politely shown the door. (Well, figuratively, as we were standing outside at the time). We've already identified where the problems most likely lie: some failed mortar on a wall which gets all of the north Wales weather, and a lack of airflow in the subfloor -- so all we need is some repointing and some air bricks, or possibly a ducted underfloor fan to move air around and get the humidity down under the floor.

The bottom line seems to be that we *don't* have dry rot, which is a massive relief, and a big thanks again to everyone on here who reassured me that was the case.

efflorescence is the correct word sometimes confused with efferfesance glad to hear its all going good for you