Crumbling plaster in porch

[Superbalicious]

My house is a mid-70s semi which has had a brick porch added before we bought it, I've noticed that at one side of the "old" front door, in the porch, the plaster is crumbing and has a white "fluffy" residue on it.

Here's a photo...

I'm guessing it's the damp proof course that's failed on this corner, but how can I repair it so that it can be replastered and painted? I was thinking of knocking all the old damaged plaster off and then sealing the brickwork with a PVA or driveway/patio type sealant, but is there something else?

Alternatively, could I just let the plasterer deal with it?

Cheers

 

[Richard C]

I doubt a plasterer would want to take on curing the problem even if he could (I could & I wouldn't want to), you need to do a fair bit more work before you’re at re-plastering stage. You’ve got a fairly serious damp penetration problem there & it’s all going to have to come off/up, including that door sill & the carpet. It could be the damp course in the pier or the damp membrane in the floor (assuming there is/are some) that’s failed or it could be nothing more sinister than water wicking in past that dodgy looking door sill or cracked mortar joints on the outside of that brick pier.

Once you’ve stripped it all back you should be able to establish where the damp is getting in, only then you can take the appropriate action to cure it & stop it happening again. Forget PVA, it’s basically wood glue & not the magic “cure all” many seem to believe it is; standard PVA is actually water soluble, absolutely no use in your situation what so ever.

 

[Superbalicious]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll have to get a specialist in then, or is it something the average DIYer could take on? Stripping back the plaster and carpet isn't a problem, but what would I be looking for next? I suppose if the brickwork is damp, but the floor isn't, then that would suggest either a mortar joint or the dpc in the pillar itself?

PS, the door sill isn't in bad shape, I've simply stripped the old paintwork off to see if it was suitable for staining

 

[stevethespreader]

if i was you i would strip it back to brick then inject it with a dose of dryzone cream 1 tube is all you will need then get a spread in to replaster http://www.dampstop-dryzone.co.uk/dsdz/default.asp

 

[Superbalicious]

if i was you i would strip it back to brick then inject it with a dose of dryzone cream 1 tube is all you will need then get a spread in to replaster http://www.dampstop-dryzone.co.uk/dsdz/default.asp[/QUOTE]

That looks like it could be worth a try. Looks like it's time for the hammer and chisel then. It'll be interesting to see what I find.

Thanks for the replies

 

[NickB_99]

That looks like it could be worth a try. Looks like it's time for the hammer and chisel then. It'll be interesting to see what I find.

Pop up another pic when you get it stripped back

 

[Richard C]

Once you’ve stripped it all back, look for more obvious signs of what caused the problem & repair that before you go injecting a new liquid damp course treatment. If the problem is due to the lack of a damp course in what may originally have been an external brick pier (my porch has one) it will help with that but it won’t cure cracked/failing mortar joints. Similarly if there is no damp membrane in the floor (I installed one in mine) & its coming up through the floor, it wont cure that either.

As Steve said, pop up some more pics when youve stripped it back; personally, I would be taking a serious look where both the sill & door frame meet the brick pier.

 

[joe-90]

I think I'd tend to agree with God. It does look a little bit too wet for damp and looks more like water ingress under the frame.

 

[Superbalicious]

Ok, it'll be a little while before I do it though as I'm away for few days soon.