Hi again,
Thanks to all respondents so far - especially NT and his/her period property
forum link - very informative and recommended - lots for me to read on
there.
Links also to other informative sites on there.
I marked out the extent of the damp on the wall 3 -4 weeks ago following
downpipe replacement and that's how I know it's not drying out though thanks
for the tip.
I have obviously underestimated the time required to dry out damp internal
brickwork. 3 - 4 weeks is not nearly long enough.
There is no doubt that this is a cavity wall - marked my drill shaft to a
brick's depth and beyond that found a void to the external leaf - ie: the
cavity.
Reassuring to know that mineral wool is is damp resistant though the
question of voids in the wool has me a bit worried.
Other recommendations and links welcome.
Main reason for THIS post is to thank respondents. THANK YOU ALL.
Regards - Its me
I know I'm top posting but I always thing its easier to read the recent
threads.
wrote in message
...
On Jul 20, 12:58 am, "ItsMe" wrote:
Hi folks,
My recently deceased mother in laws house is in the process of 'being
looked
at by me' and due renovation.
A few years ago she had a grant for cavity wall insulation ( CWI ) and it
was installed ( 82 yo and disabled ).
The installation used a blown in mineral wool type of insulation.
The property is about 100 years old.
On the front wall about 5 feet above ground level there is internally a
damp
patch prevoiusly not identified - behind furnishings - and it's not drying
out. There are a few other damp patches here and there above the 1 metre
damp proof course fault boundary. Possibly external mortar pointing also.
External mortar pointing/gutter downpipe leak in that area of the wall was
found to be substandard and is now fixed - but it's still not drying out
after 3-4 weeks.
What is the possibilty that the mineral wool insulation has become sodden
in
the area and - given the lack of ventilation in the cavity due to CWI -
will
take an age to dry out.
Today I have drilled the damp wall in 2 places from the inside to try to
recover some insulation to test for soddenness - can't recover any
insulation to test - just couldn't hook it out.
Maybe I need to remove a brick on the inside to gain access.
Is the mineral wool insulation they use water repellant or can it become
sodden and retain the dampness for long periods.
What are the implications for other external walls in the property being
that I've identified several areas externally where pointing is
defficient.
I have nightmares of sodden CWI in various pointing deficient areas that
would be verry difficult to fix without removal of the CWI.
Should mineral wool CW insulation actually have been used in this
situation
where external pointing was in some need.and would have been obvious at
the
time it was installed.
I know there are other possibilities for the damp in other areas but in
THIS
area the wall above is not damp.
How to fix it - thats the question.
Recommendations welcome.
TIA - It's me
PP damp faq:
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpB...pic.php?t=6777
The short version is that once you've sorted the pointing and any
other issues letting water in, its self fixing - but slow.
NT