Wet above skirting board after all the heavy rain

[dilapidated2017]

Does anyone have any ideas?

It's an external cavity wall in the kitchen

Wall has been dry up until the recent heavy rain.

It is a 1980's extension on back of Victorian house and has previously been damp proofed.

To narrow down what the cause could be can anyone help confirm the following :

If it's wet after torrential rain does this mean it's likely not to be rising damp?

The external wall is rendered, can't see any cracks - does this mean it's likely not to be penetrating?

If these two points are correct,
I'm guessing to be dodgy bit of guttering or something to do with the block paving going up to the wall on the outside.

I was watching the rain today and the rain wasn't sitting against the house, so possibly not draining away properly underneath?

We are forecast rain for the rest of the week.

Additionally - there is no smell of damp and no mould
Some of the paint above skirting is slightly bubbly now.

Thank you

 

[JohnD]

show us some photos, at ground level, roof and window, inside and out, and of the gutter, downpipe, yard gully and kitchen drain.

Examine the whole house looking for signs of where a dpc, probably slate, might once have been.

If the wet is a 1980's extension, it should have cavity and dpc. It should not have needed "damp proofing." drill a hole through to the cavity, from outside, 4" above ground, and see if water runs out.

 

[foxhole]

Check height externally compared with internal ? Splash from heavy rain could get thru even small cracks on render which will hold it against the wall until it works it's way thru. As mentioned pics would help. Most likely you have high level penetration which is trapped behind render.

 

[dilapidated2017]

Thanks for the responses. I took some photos over the weekend showing the inside, the outside, the guttering etc.

I also sat and watched the external wall when it last rained heavily to see what was going on. Looks like there is a fracture in the black section of guttering where the white section meets it. Assume this could be one part of the cause.

The block paving didnt seem to get too wet, but we removed one course of bricks as far a long as we could and so far the damp hasmt come through in that area again.

The damp seems to now be located to the area where the gas meter is. The old red bricks under there were covered in dirt causing the bricks to be saturated (above these bricks is where the cracked guttering is).

So hoping that now the dirt has been cleared, and once the guttering is replaced the damp should disappear...

Other thing to mention is the paint that has been bubbling on the wall is kitchen and bathroom paint, so not exactly breathable.

 

[dilapidated2017]

 

[JohnD]

at the bottom of that wall is a black bit sticking out. Could that be the ground slab? How does it relate to the floor level inside?

If it is the slab, and if water falls on it, it would tend to soak into the floor and the wall.

Water would be much worse if, as you allude to, there is a gutter fault causing water to fall or run down the wall. Put a hosepipe in it and any leakage or overflow will be clearer. It will be worse if there is a blockage of leaves in the gutter or downpipe. You might be able to loosen the joint at the bottom of the downpipe for a look.

The blank wall makes me think of a garage that has been converted to a habitable room.

The wall looks like it might be solid lightweight blocks rather than a cavity wall. If you drill it, it would be very easy, and you would get fine light grey dust out.

 

[dilapidated2017]

Just taken some more photos which might clarify some details.

Ground slab looks to be lower...

Gutters and downpipe definitely clear.

Wall is brick with a plasterboard and then plastered internal finish. I have taken a photo of the inside of an access hatch where the soil pipe is which shows brick wall then plasterboard. Doesnt look much like a cavity...

 

[JohnD]

I'm surprised water is appearing on the inside face of the drylining though, it looks well-separated.

Is there any water showing on the "floor" of the space between the plasterboard and the bricks? Or is there a piece of timber about where the wet is showing? I'm thinking about water penetrating and lying on it, perhaps round the gas meter box.

 

[dilapidated2017]

its hard to see, but from what i can tell, no. there is no visible wet on the floor visible within the access hatch.

 

[dilapidated2017]

2 more photos of inside

The one above shoes that the area that had become very wet previously has dried out since cleaning the dirty sodden bricks externally.
There are a few patches just above the skirting which are dark coloured plaster and cold and damp to the touch. The skirting itself is dry.
There is no wetness.

This one is just showing the overall area so the distance between the soil pipe / access hatch is a distance away from where the damp is coming through.

 

[dilapidated2017]

Also to note - we currently have no heating on in this room of the house

 

[vinn]

The black ledge - is it a projection of the edge of a concrete slab or something else?
It will be trapping and pooling water that can then make its way inside the wall and up the wall.

Your pics show what looks like some form of water penetration.
If you remove a length of skirting & examine the back of the skirting you might find a little wet rot?

I suspect that the external rendering was applied to hopefully prevent previous water penetration.