Posted at May 24, 2009 @ 3:00 pm by admin in Handyman Orlando
I have two damp patches on my kitchen wall the firm who put the DPC in 10 years ago is no longer in business and the firms I phoned all want £80 or so call out fees just to tell me what type of damp it is. A builder looked at it and said it was a small section of the old DPC that had failed and needs re doing. Can I do it myself or does anyone know a firm who will just come and do it without such huge call out fees. Manchester area.
May 24, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
1. check that your gutters aren’t blocked or overflowing.
2. check the outside of the wall by running your hand over it. Is that wet (not just damp)
3. Are there any cracked bricks or is there any broken mortar on the outside of that wall? If so re-point the wall or the damaged area.
4. Check your damp course to see that earth etc hasn’t built up above the level of the damp course. Clear it if necessary
5.Check there is nothing leaning against the outside wall that might be letting water breach the damp course. Move whatever.
6. If there is no problem with the outside of the wall get a dehumidifier. I may take months to clear a really damp wall with a domestic dehumidifier.
7. Lastly, I presume the damp area isn’t under a flat roof? If so, clear any water that might have gathered on the flat roof and get it checked. You may need to resurface it
May 24, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
its most probebly a blocked cavity letting damp travel across the cavity, take a hammer drill and long masonary bit drill through from inside out where the damp patch is , then remove brickwork with chisels about 3 4 bricks ,so you should be able to look in to the cavity , you should see or feel for wet or the clogging up try to clear without dropping cement into the cavity,
May 24, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
It’s more likely that some pointing has deteriorated on the outside of the wall, or a leaky drain or gutter or overflow pipe. It would be highly unusual for the DPC to have any problems, so save some money and inspect the outside first.
May 24, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Paint over it and sell the house quick