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[tunnie]

Been putting off this job for a while, but as MrsT is moving in time to fix it. I live on 5th of 6 floors in a small block of flats built in 1936, I have a problem with damp on one wall.

The wall backs onto the bathroom, the source of the damp was an incorrectly sealed bath. They grouted it, rather than sealed it 

I've resolved where water gets in, but its caused the plaster to go damp. From what I can see it was plastered, then papered, but the paper has seen much better days.



The top part of the wall is fine, in fact large sections are ok, its almost in "strips" or just small sections on this single wall.



Now I pulled off the wall paper, to find some sections dry & firm. Other sections are bubbling up, I chipped away at this and it just falls off, revealing the concrete behind.



There are no false walls in the flat, all are concrete. The plaster is damp and like mulsh were it has bubbled, the concrete is of course damp underneath. Small section here, I pulled off paper and chipped away a bit.



Its the only wall that has this issue, because of the bathroom. As the other walls are fine:



Whats best way to resolve this?

I'm thinking:

1) Strip all wall paper off
2) Chip away & remove all damp plaster, into good plaster. A good distance, 10, 20cm or so?
3) This will reveal lots of patches, hire a dehumidifier? Ventilation + heating? Let it dry out? Not sure how long this will take

Once its dry, paint this stuff on:

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=675049

Then, either Polyfiller or plaster over the patches that I chipped out earlier.

Let that dry & paint over it. Either with standard paint or:

http://www.toollineuk.com/product.php/site/froogle/sn/PLCSOTW5L

Thoughts, suggestions? All very welcome

Considering getting a proffesional in, but what would they do, that I would not do above?

[mantahatch]

If it is still damp, anything you do will be a waste of time. My bath is only sealed with grout and has been since it was replaced in 1998. It backs onto the kitchen (bungalow) wall and has a cupboard and the fridge freezer against it and I suffer no damp problems like that.

Are you 100% sure that is where the problem is coming from ?

Should add my wall is clinker blocks and rendered and set on both sides. Built in 1961.

[davethediver]

Leave well alone and don't move the Mrs in save you a lot of hassle on all fronts

[blackviper90210]

Although never going to be "cheap" either way, I would strip the entire wall back to concrete, then leave to naturally dry out. When it is, get it re-plastered and decorate as required.

Just imho

[henryd]

Are you sure there are no water pipes in that vicinity that may be cemented into the walls,if one has a pinhole that would cause your problem,what you have there seems to much for a bit of seepage behind a bath/shower

[Varche]

Ah damp!

What you need is to attend one of Varches "1001 ways of Dealing with damp " courses. All older Spanish houses were built with no damp proof courses. No problem as it hardly ever rains................

Solution number 876. Quickly clean the affected area and then tile up to waist height to hide the problem.
Solution number 138. Wire brush affected area and paint with wine vinegar then when dry finish as normal. 

[pscocoa]

Check your insurance policy - usually the item that has caused the fault is not covered but the damage caused is covered. You must identify the true source or all your hard work will be in vain. Be careful if they try and trap you to saying it was a pre existing condition when you took out policy

I had some serious work to do in my daughter's cellar - you think you have cured the water ingress but it then finds another way in. £16000 later with membrane systems and pumps and battery back up the issue is cured - long story but insurance paid - after a slight battle

[mantahatch]

Are you sure there are no water pipes in that vicinity that may be cemented into the walls,if one has a pinhole that would cause your problem,what you have there seems to much for a bit of seepage behind a bath/shower

Forgot about that  Have you got a pipe/cable detector thing. Might pay to run that over the wall to see what is there.

[tunnie]

Thanks for all the replies chaps 

To answer a couple of questions:

1) Yes there must be pipes behind as the bath is directly behind this wall, with taps backing onto this wall. There was quite a bad gap between bath and tiles were the grouting has broken away. So there could be a leaking pipe. I'd not feel comfortable lifting the bath to inspect.

2) Insurance wise, I was not planning to involve them as I would only have to claim which would no doubt wack up my policy.

 

[tunnie]

Could anyone recommend a plumber or damp specialists in West London?

[Martian]

Could anyone recommend a plumber or damp specialists in West London?

I can find you someone to do the job properly without ripping you off among my workmates, but I'm not so sure on whether they would travel in to West London to do the job.

I can certainly show them the pics & your description of the job and get their opinion if you like?

[tunnie]

Could anyone recommend a plumber or damp specialists in West London?

I can find you someone to do the job properly without ripping you off among my workmates, but I'm not so sure on whether they would travel in to West London to do the job.

I can certainly show them the pics & your description of the job and get their opinion if you like?

Much appreciated, many thanks. Yes please! 

I loath getting people in as you never know if they are going to be good or not, posted up on http://www.mybuilder.com, got one guy coming for a quote tonight. Just to pop out the bath and inspect pipework. (Thanks Henry, did not think to check pipework!)

First place was £75+vat hour & expected work to take 3 hours. (bath removal, check & reseal)

If transport is an issue, I could easily pop down your way to collect them. 

[Martian]

Much appreciated, many thanks. Yes please! 

I loath getting people in as you never know if they are going to be good or not, posted up on http://www.mybuilder.com, got one guy coming for a quote tonight. Just to pop out the bath and inspect pipework. (Thanks Henry, did not think to check pipework!)

First place was £75+vat hour & expected work to take 3 hours. (bath removal, check & reseal)

If transport is an issue, I could easily pop down your way to collect them. 

We (my recently departed business partner & I) get asked by the likes of the BBC to work for them if that's any kind of reference, and the guys we work with have exactly the same attitude to work as we do.....the job gets done right the first time, you won't be getting charged £75 per hour for sure because that is a blatant piss take, and you won't know they've been there once the job is done as tidyness is just as paramount as the job itself where they are concerned.

[Kevin Wood]

I don't know a lot about it, but it should be possible to test for damp. If the source of the damp has been stopped and the surface exposed for some time then surely such a test would determine whether any further investigation is required or it's just a case of "making good".

No harm in checking the plumbing anyway, of course.

[tunnie]

Much appreciated, many thanks. Yes please! 

I loath getting people in as you never know if they are going to be good or not, posted up on http://www.mybuilder.com, got one guy coming for a quote tonight. Just to pop out the bath and inspect pipework. (Thanks Henry, did not think to check pipework!)

First place was £75+vat hour & expected work to take 3 hours. (bath removal, check & reseal)

If transport is an issue, I could easily pop down your way to collect them. 

We (my recently departed business partner & I) get asked by the likes of the BBC to work for them if that's any kind of reference, and the guys we work with have exactly the same attitude to work as we do.....the job gets done right the first time, you won't be getting charged £75 per hour for sure because that is a blatant piss take, and you won't know they've been there once the job is done as tidyness is just as paramount as the job itself where they are concerned.

Thats what I like to hear, I was a bit taken back with £75+vat as a rate. Could not see it taking very long either, he started going on about 4 hours+ it was 50% discount on the rate 

Once I've confirmed either way if the bath pipes are an issue, I'm looking to get that wall re-plastered as well. So quite a few jobs hopefully to make it worth your while for anyone you recommend