Smoke through party wall
 

My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks, is
finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in the
mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's coming from
next door.
Obvious possibilities a
through the window - unlikely?
through blocked up flue;
through hidden air vent
?

Other possibilities to investigate or suggestions for treatment would be
appreciated as the bedroom in question is granddaughters (12 months) and she
has been sleeping badly recently (?connection?) and I'd like to help get it
sorted pdq.

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

John Cartmell wrote:
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few
weeks, is finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco
smoke in the mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed
that it's coming from next door.
Obvious possibilities a
through the window - unlikely?
through blocked up flue;
through hidden air vent
?

Other possibilities to investigate or suggestions for treatment would
be appreciated as the bedroom in question is granddaughters (12
months) and she has been sleeping badly recently (?connection?) and
I'd like to help get it sorted pdq.

The house might have caught fire at sometime before she bought it, and the
walls might have just been painted over?

In article ,
ben wrote:
John Cartmell wrote:
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few
weeks, is finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco
smoke in the mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed
that it's coming from next door.
Obvious possibilities a
through the window - unlikely?
through blocked up flue;
through hidden air vent
?

Other possibilities to investigate or suggestions for treatment would
be appreciated as the bedroom in question is granddaughters (12
months) and she has been sleeping badly recently (?connection?) and
I'd like to help get it sorted pdq.

The house might have caught fire at sometime before she bought it, and the
walls might have just been painted over?

Don't think so. The smell wasn't there a few weeks ago but has been quite
clear for the last few mornings - and daughter reckons it is tobacco.
There are no signs of there having been a fire.

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

In message , John Cartmell
writes
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks, is
finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in the
mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's coming from
next door.
Obvious possibilities a
through the window - unlikely?
through blocked up flue;
through hidden air vent
?

I assume the bedroom is on the party wall side of the house?
Can you lift the flooring and check the wall, could be gaps where the
floor joists are fitted into the brick work.
Via the attic? Again are there gaps in the party wall?



Other possibilities to investigate or suggestions for treatment would be
appreciated as the bedroom in question is granddaughters (12 months) and she
has been sleeping badly recently (?connection?) and I'd like to help get it
sorted pdq.


--
Bill

John Cartmell wrote:
In article ,
ben wrote:
John Cartmell wrote:
[snip]
The house might have caught fire at sometime before she bought it,
and the walls might have just been painted over?

Don't think so. The smell wasn't there a few weeks ago but has been
quite clear for the last few mornings - and daughter reckons it is
tobacco. There are no signs of there having been a fire.

It might only appear at humid conditions? there won't be any signs of house
being on fire if the job was well done to cover up the signs?

Other possibility knock next door and ask does anyone smoke in that house,
heavily.

A ghost. :-)

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 21:02:03 +0100, John Cartmell
wrote:


Obvious possibilities a
through the window - unlikely?
through blocked up flue;
through hidden air vent
?

Through the party wall either in the attic or under the bedroom
floorboards or under the ground floor. In 1930's houses it wasn't at
all uncommon to have large gaps in the brickwork in any of these
places.


--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

In article ,
ben wrote:
John Cartmell wrote:
In article ,
ben wrote:
John Cartmell wrote:
[snip]
The house might have caught fire at sometime before she bought it,
and the walls might have just been painted over?

Don't think so. The smell wasn't there a few weeks ago but has been
quite clear for the last few mornings - and daughter reckons it is
tobacco. There are no signs of there having been a fire.

It might only appear at humid conditions? there won't be any signs of house
being on fire if the job was well done to cover up the signs?

An item to check certainly. And thanks for the humidity clue.

Other possibility knock next door and ask does anyone smoke in that house,
heavily.

We know the neighbours do smoke. It's how the smoke gets into my g'daughtr's
bedroom that's the problem.

A ghost. :-)

Now that's an interesting line! ;-)

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

In article ,
Peter Parry wrote:
On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 21:02:03 +0100, John Cartmell
wrote:


Obvious possibilities a
through the window - unlikely?
through blocked up flue;
through hidden air vent
?

Through the party wall either in the attic or under the bedroom
floorboards or under the ground floor. In 1930's houses it wasn't at
all uncommon to have large gaps in the brickwork in any of these
places.

Thanks to Bill and Peter. Lots of investigating to do ... ;-(

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

In message , John Cartmell
writes

Thanks to Bill and Peter. Lots of investigating to do ... ;-(

Good luck, please let us know how you get on.


--
Bill

"John Cartmell" wrote in message
...
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks,
is
finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in the
mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's coming
from
next door.

If no-one else smells it, I'd suggest a pregnancy test....

In article ,
John Cartmell wrote:
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks,
is finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in
the mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's
coming from next door. Obvious possibilities a through the window -
unlikely? through blocked up flue; through hidden air vent ?

My guess would be poor mortar work in the party wall behind the skirting
or in the floor void beneath.

--
*Marriage changes passion - suddenly you're in bed with a relative*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , Suz
wrote:

"John Cartmell" wrote in message
...
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks,
is finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in
the mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's
coming from next door.

If no-one else smells it, I'd suggest a pregnancy test....

Now that's an option I hadn't considered! ;-)

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

"John Cartmell" wrote in message

My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks,
is
finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in the
mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's coming
from
next door.

My mum had a similar problem in a 2nd floor flat. Turned out that all the
service pipes/cables went up & down in one corner and were boxed in badly
with plasterboard. It was sealed with silicone and solved the problem.

I reckon there is a pathway between the bedroom & next door, maybe in the
loft or under the floor.

Dave

John Cartmell wrote:

My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few
weeks, is finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco
smoke in the mornings.

Undoubtedly coming in under the floorboards. Drove my GF mad at her
place. We were all set to pull up the floorboards on every floor and get
stuck in with expanding foam sprays. In the end she decided to move, I'm
glad to say. I don't envy you, you've probably got a lot of work ahead
if you want to fix this.

Regards

Mark

In article ,
Mark A wrote:
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few
weeks, is finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco
smoke in the mornings.

Undoubtedly coming in under the floorboards. Drove my GF mad at her
place. We were all set to pull up the floorboards on every floor and get
stuck in with expanding foam sprays. In the end she decided to move, I'm
glad to say. I don't envy you, you've probably got a lot of work ahead
if you want to fix this.

If it's just one of the bedrooms, shouldn't be too much work to render the
party wall under those floorboards and behind the skirting.

--
*The older you get, the better you realize you were.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"John Cartmell" wrote in message
...
My daughter has recently moved into a 1930s semi and, after a few weeks,
is
finding that one of the bedrooms smells strongly of tobacco smoke in the
mornings. No one in the house smokes and it's presumed that it's coming
from
next door.

let us know how you get on