-
These old houses are really leaky so condensation is unlikely to cause really significant problems - unless you are doing mad stuff like constantly air drying clothes 24/7.
Condensation will only cause dramatic problems if the place has been sealed up, i.e. all windows / doors have good seals, the sub floor has been sealed over, the ventilation air bricks removed or boarded over, the fireplaces sealed over, the roof space sealed over etc.
Obvious things to check based on your diagram
- sink or pipework leaking
- some fuck up with the way the fireplace / chimney has been dealt with
- fucked guttering / roofing causing water to run down the outside of the building
- sink or pipework leaking
Howard-
Hmmm, I’d really thought that rear wall was condensation just because it came from nowhere - wall looked dry in the afternoon, we cooked dinner (no windows open, mostly in gas oven on high) and then the base of that part of the rear wall shown in red suddenly looked wet. We cracked open a window a bit and it went away pretty quickly…
Will have a look at leaky pipe work as well, that is a possibility. Fireplace definitely is as the inside of the fireplace itself feels damp - they’ve build a cupboard in the alcove and had to put vents in the doors… I’d assumed that was condensation as well though, as it feels cold at the back of that alcove so I’d thought it was just a thermal bridge and colder than the rest of the walls.
I’d be surprised if its leaky guttering etc as the damp bits aren’t near where the guttering runs.
When it comes to calling a pro to look at this stuff, who to aim for? I am aware damp specialists will just want to inject some nonsense into my house, which i am sceptical of…
andyfallsoff
Anyone have a recommendation for someone to advise / visit / treat damp related issues in South East London?
Have just moved into a 1920s house (this Tues!)
House is lovely, but some of the walls on exterior sides feel seriously cold and we've seen some signs of damp. I think its probably just condensation related but would like someone to come and have a look - would be keen to put insulation in the necessary places if that would fix it, but conscious of keeping that "letting the building breathe" factor too...