Question for home owners/ builders / smart people!

[Joe]

Got a problem in one room of our apartment with damp

We insulated the interior last year and through the year its been fine but we had a blast of cold this winter and its coming back again, is it best to insulate the outside as well?

The block we live in is 30+ years old and probably not the most structurally well built place but its not bad by any means, just we get some big changes in weather here and as we are on the ground floor the basement is right underneath so any wet and damp from there seems to travel up!

Any ideas from those who have been in this situation or work in this field, builders, decorators etc?

Any help be great!

Tired of looking on google to be told to buy a Dehumidifier and insulate, we did that and it didn't work..

 

[aussiejames]

"We insulted the interior " Do you mean rising damp? ie the wall paint is blistering near the floor &/or the plaster is falling off. And it sounds like it is just one room? A room that backs onto a wet area? (shower/bath etc.)

 

[Ron]

Joe am a bricklayer

What type of constuction is your appartment Joe. See round about the building round about ground level. Maybe 6" or higher there should be some damp proof membrane. Non technical a bit of polythene. Built in to the wall. This is suppose to stop damp rising. Up from floor level.

Here in the uk we build houses with a cavity. I mean 2 seperate walls with a 60mm cavity to form a vacuume. Also stops damp passing through from outside.

You might have a solid wall. Where the damp could pass though from outside to inside. Not to sure on the constuctiuon of buildings in romania

 

[Joe]

Problem may be bigger than we thought I just went to see the spare room and that has the same problem !

Its dark patches, like spotting that appears on the walls, can be taken off with a cloth/wipe.

The walls that are affected are open to the elements, the back spare room backs on to the garden and the front office wall with the problem backs on to the blocks entrance so its a hall leading to stairs with no heating , just the cold getting to it.

Not really sure what to do to be honest, invest money in trying to fix the place up or not, we put a bit of money into insulating the interior of two rooms last year and one is going the same way with the damp, it does seem to be starting from the floor though James, we get damp on the flooring and skirting boards and the floor is always extremely cold to touch, I think the big problem could be the basement underneath, its a general storage area but seeing as though many don't really go down there in our block its just full of junk and not very well taken care of.

I'll not be putting money into sorting the basement out in a 5 story apartment block because I bet no-one else here will want to !

 

[Joe]

Joe am a bricklayer

What type of constuction is your appartment Joe. See round about the building round about ground level. Maybe 6" or higher there should be some damp proof membrane. Non technical a bit of polythene. Built in to the wall. This is suppose to stop damp rising. Up from floor level.

Here in the uk we build houses with a cavity. I mean 2 seperate walls with a 60mm cavity to form a vacuume. Also stops damp passing through from outside.

You might have a solid wall. Where the damp could pass though from outside to inside. Not to sure on the constuctiuon of buildings in romania

Cheers for the info Ron, I will have a look at what I can find out about the construction of the block, I will go see now and if I find anything useful I will post back!

 

[Capetown]

Just put some new straw on the roof Joe. :wink:

 

[Ron]

joe sounds like the damp is coming up from the ground

 

[jabbawokkie]

it could also be a condensation problem .i had the same in a room in winter which got black mold in which i could wipe of .in end i took all plaster of .stuck a few air bricks in .put a coat of sand and cement on though you can buy renovating plaster which is very good to stop damp but 20 odd pound a bag. I mixed some damp prevention stuff in as well then put some boards on and skimmed it and its been bone dry ever since .i think this is what your prob is as its on the same walls in the bedroom above so it cant be damp as damp only rises to a meter .

 

[Badboybez1]

Without knowing what the building is made from and its foundations can't give any remedies. However as someone else has already mentioned check the airflow inside the house. I'd wipe away the black damp patches and keep a window open a bit to make sure air circulates the room in question and see it the damp comes back. Check for airbricks as well (already mentioned) are they covered up / have you got any?

 

[jabbawokkie]

you can wipe it away and keep room vented but if its bad the mould will be set in plaster now any way so it will have to come off to stop it coming back .where you live any way i am quiet in january so will give you a good price if your near :wink: :lol:

 

[jabbawokkie]

you can wipe it away and keep room vented but if its bad the mould will be set in plaster now any way so it will have to come off to stop it coming back .where you live any way i am quiet in january so will give you a good price if your near :wink: :lol: