Damp with pic....

[thornton_chris]

Hi all!

I have just been to look at a house to buy which was built in the 1600's.

The guy who owns it says that damp is, and always will be, a problem. There are some walls which have no plaster on them and they are quite clearly damp to the touch. He said this is normal and that if we replaster other bits of the house we need to use special renovation plaster which is designed to breathe. Is any of this true?

If it makes any difference there is no central heating at present. Just electirc heaters in each room. Also the downstairs floors are solid.

Here is the best pictire I have got. You can see the damp patch behind the chair (its the dark patch). By the way, there is no mould anywhere obvious in the house.

Untitled

• thornton_chris
• 5 Jul 2012
• 1

Many thanks for any advice!

Chris

 

[stuart45]

Old houses don't have DPC's and DPM's so dampness is more likely in them. The walls should be lime plastered if you want them plastered.
Masonry and timber contains a certain amount of moisture in all properties, it is only a problem if it's excessive and causes timber rot or mould on the walls etc.
Is the stonework re-pointed with lime or cement mortar where it's damp?

 

[joe-90]

Peaps is your man.

 

[^woody^]

When you buy a property of that age, you need to adapt to the property and not try and adapt the property to suit you - that is what you are buying in to

Raised moisture levels is itself, not a problem