Damp Bay Window

[Willsgeorge]

Hi

I posted a thread a few weeks ago regarding damp around the bay window of my front room. I’ve been letting the brickwork dry out since. I’ve also pulled up the floor boards to see what is going on internally. It looks like the vent was block and someone has previously tried to treat the damp. They’ve added a damp proof course above the original slate one. It looks like it was a layer of felt? There’s also evidence of injections into the wall. The brickwork has salts and high damp readings.
I’m not sure what to do next?! I’ve had three damp companies come as view my house. None of them identified the issues I’ve been describing. They suggested injecting a solution into the wall and using a special plaster. I’m not sure I trust asking someone else - but need to get it sorted! What would you advise me to do next? Would it better to ask a builder? I’ve added photos below.
Thanks for your help, Will.

Read more: https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/damp-bay-window.573687/#ixzz6zBodE5xU

 

[Dannyboyski]

Hi will,

Firstly that humidity meter is not suitable for measuring moisture in brick. It actually thinks salts on the bricks are moisture.

my opinion, those old bricks need to breathe.

Your house has inappropriate cement pointing. This should really be lime mortar for those bricks I would say.

I suspect the bulk of the damp is caused by that cement render externally. Get an sds drill and chip it off, & either return to brick. (Use brick acid to clean them up) or do it in lime render.

Our whole house had this going on. Removed all the cement and back to lime and it’s dry as a bone.

apart from the roof which we currently have off!

Go on you tube and Google Peter ward damp. He has lots of videos showing how many damp problems are easily fixed just be removing inappropriate non breathable materials (cement modern plasters etc)

best of luck.

 

[Dannyboyski]

Ps Do not inject anything. That will not work. We had that here, previous owner must have fallen for it. Horrible stuff. The walls were still damp until the cement was gone.