Rising Damp

Orch · 11 Oct 2013 at 14:50

There seems to be someone on here for every topic so might as well try my luck!

We live in a terraced cottage about 100 or so years old. The floors are suspended wooden floors. We have a patch of rising damp in the corner of the bottom of the staircase. This is a bare (painted) brick between myself and the neighbours. They have noticed anything their side, I went round and couldn't see any evidence either.

Mind you, they had foundation retrofitted at some point so perhaps their more moddern damp proofing is keeping their side at bay.

We're thinking of selling up soon and moving on so clearly need to do something about it if we want to sell it, the area is very noticeable because the paint never dries in that patch.

It's made more awkward by the fact the bottom of the wall is hidden by the first two or three steps of the stair case.

So, what options do we have? What are the likely remedies and how much £££ am I looking at do you think?

Specifics are out of the question of course but ball park figures or similar experiences would be great to hear.

BigBoy · 11 Oct 2013 at 18:39

Is the wall external? Have you checked all air vents for the floorspace? Is there any evidence of water flow under the floor around the area?

Orch · 11 Oct 2013 at 19:10

No its the party wall between me and next door, half way through the house.

Here's a rubbish phone pic

fornowagain · 11 Oct 2013 at 19:26

That's a lot, more like a leak somewhere.

Need to see the footings really, see what's going on down there.

Nightglow · 11 Oct 2013 at 20:07

fornowagain said:
That's a lot, more like a leak somewhere.

Need to see the footings really, see what's going on down there.

+1

Nothing like rising damp, no mould or staining on the wall, definitely looks a leak from somewhere.

What does your neighbour have on the other side of that wall, also where does your & neighbour's mains water pipe run?

Really need to lift a few floorboards & see if that a pool of water has collected, or the ground is sodden.

How long has it been there, is it only there, what about rest of wall under stairs.

BigBoy · 11 Oct 2013 at 20:12

Defford not rising damp, have next door in filled there floor? Looks more like poor damp proofing from there side or perhaps a water leak/leaky radiator.

Brozart · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:44

If its a party wall and the neighbours aren't complaining then my guess it could be an old chimney flue leaking?

The_Baron · 11 Oct 2013 at 21:49

Does look like a leak. However when you lift the stairs make sure the plaster doesn't go right to the floor. There should be a gap which would mean damp on the ground won't climb up the plaster by means of capillary action.

Orch · 12 Oct 2013 at 00:13

Thanks guys. I'm getting similar responses elsewhere so think you might be right.

I've been next door and couldn't see anything that looked like a culprit. They have had there floor filled in so maybe that has an effect, it's just strange that it's this spot only. The upboard under the stairs is bone dry, as is everywhere else.

I guess I need to take the top off one of those steps and see what's going on underneath

Nightglow · 12 Oct 2013 at 08:23

If it was as a result of your neighbour floor being filled in you see similar wet patches elsewhere along the wall(s), your not, it's local to one spot.

There has to be a water source, like a pipe, drain, in the floor area they filled in, leaking.

If the problem has been caused by your neighbour's work, then they might end up having their floor dug up to rectified the problem.