How do you treat rising damp on a stone wall?

Maintaining a constant low flow of air through a building allows damp air to exit to the outside world. This may be done through trickle vents, installing a positive pressure ventilation system, or just by leaving the windows open a little. Air flow is probably the cheapest and easiest way to manage damp.

What causes damp patches on chimney breast?

Damp patches on the chimney breast, brown or yellow marks on the walls and ceilings surrounding the chimney often point to damage caused by a water leak or building faults such as inadequate guttering, missing roof tiles, poor flashing details and absorbent masonry.

Why is my chimney wall damp?

The most common causes of damp in your chimney breast are: Rain water or other external moisture getting in. Condensation forming from inside the chimney. Hygroscopic salts drawing moisture into the walls.

How do you dry out a damp chimney?

Remove all the damp plaster from the affected chimney area and any surrounding areas and take it right back to the bare wall behind. Allow the wall to dry out thoroughly, giving it as much time as is required, in some case this can be several months. Decent ventilation, fans and a dehumidifier will help.

Does damp rise through stone?

Moisture diffuses through all building fabric (Walls, stone, mortar, plaster, paint, timber), regardless of temperature.

How do you stop rising damp in solid walls?

The most effective and economical way to treat rising damp is with a damp proofing injection cream. You can choose between complete kits or individual cartridges of cream from leading brands such as Kiesol C and Aida. The cream is injected or hand-pumped into specially-positioned holes in the mortar course.

How long does a stone wall take to dry out?

To protect the fabric of the wall and allow it to dry properly the situation needs to be reversed, with dry stonework and moisture evaporating through the mortar. It can take two or even three years before the wall is fully dry, depending on the type of stone and construction.

Is it normal for rain to come down chimney?

Rainwater trickling into your fireplace is not normal. In fact, it is a telltale sign that there is an issue within your chimney system. The chimney is a much more complicated structure than most people realize. For this reason, pinpointing the exact source of the leak can be challenging.

Does insurance cover rising damp?

Does home insurance cover rising damp? In most cases, it won’t. Buildings insurance policies don’t pay out for problems that are seen as the result of gradual deterioration, which is what insurers consider rising damp to be.

Can you treat rising damp yourself?

The only way to treat rising damp is to create a new damp-proofing course to prevent moisture movement through the structure. Historically, walls were cut into and masonry removed to install a new physical damp-proofing course along the masonry line. This process poses a number of problems for most structures.