Damp Course Dry Rot Issue

Molep · 22 May 2019 at 14:05

Hi all

noticed some dry rot on my skirting near front door - thought it maybe moisture coming in from round the door - however once skirting was taken off I can see that the previous owners have laid a damp course, cemented over and then laid the floor.

issue with this is that the damp course ends at the wall so any moisture from the ground/floor just escapes here.

Any ideas on what to do?
put new skirting with a few vents in it?

thanks

Molep · 22 May 2019 at 16:11

OK, that wall is an internal wall shared with next door, it is a cob wall, which is a pain.

I guess it's had the wrong plaster, paint, paper on it not allowing it to breathe

Molep · 22 May 2019 at 19:35

Outside is all good had gutters, downpipes fixed last year and cleared waterway from downpipe leading out on road. That part of property is about 1800s, if not earlier, the cob wall is about 2ft thick.

Under the wallpaper seems to be plastered, not lime I think and some cement near the bottom.

I think I'll get as much cement as I can off the bottom, take off wallpaper as I hate it and it's knackered leave it to air for a few weeks and put back skirting with a good 1.5" gap behind it. Paper back over. Far from ideal. Don't wanna start ******* about with a cob wall.

Molep · 22 May 2019 at 19:36

Outside is all good had gutters, downpipes fixed last year and cleared warerway from downpipe leading out on road. That part of property is about 1800s, if not earlier, the cob wall is about 2ft thick.

Under the wallpaper seems to be plastered, not lime I think and some cement near the bottom.

I think I'll get as much cement as I can off the bottom, take off wallpaper as I hate it and it's knackered leave it to air for a few weeks and put back skirting with a good 1.5" gap behind it. Paper back over. Far from ideal. Don't wanna start ******* about with a cob wall.

Molep · 24 May 2019 at 14:24

Ha, no the damp guys can naff off!

We're all single glazed sash with no floor void (I recently fixed under the stairs and it's just earth) so just membrane and concrete on that.

Next door however do have double glazing, wallpaper, gas fire on their side (oldies so like the warm stuffyness) so no moisture can escape there either.

Fitted a drimaster last autumn and that has bought down RH from 70% average to 50% and cleared any condensation, I think that will be enough once its' fully dried after I take off the cement at the base and painted wallpaper.

I read the wallrock paste and paper is supposely breathable (I am not so sure) but it is good stuff to use so will hang that with a natural paint.

Reckon with a bit of airflow behind the skirting it will be good.