Looking for advice before decorating my kitchen

[Dxc712]

Hello

I'm looking to decorate my new kitchen. However there is a small damp patch above the kitchen window.

The management company have said that repointing needs to be done on the exterior wall. However this work may not take place for a while.

Will the repointing need to be done before any decorating takes place or are there other options which mean that the kitchen walls could be painted first?

For example, is it possible to leave the damp patch unpainted, painted the rest of the kitchen and then paint where the damp patch was one the repointing has been done on the exterior wall?

I've attached a photo of the damp patch.
Unfortunately, the photo is pointing the wrong way. It's 90 degrees anticlockwise from what it should be. For some reason, whichever way I turn the photo before attaching and previewing it, it still ends up pointing the wrong way.


The patch originally appeared after a bout of heavy rain but has shrunk and faded to how it currently is and has looked this way for months. I presume that it hasn't got worse because there hasn't been heavy rain coming in at the same direction that caused the patch in the first place.

[Dxc712]

The patch shown in the above photo hasn't changed for months.

It's remained the same size and doesn't seem to have faded or got darker.

Could it be a stain rather than a damp patch? And is there any way of telling which it is?

Thanks

[Neelix]

Damp meter ?

Photo showing the outside might help

[dewaltdisney]

Looking at it, it is not a natural place for damp to occur. Just above that point, there would be a lintel for the window frame. A water ingress issue in that area might look like it has worked over the end of the lintel and accumulated in the area below, but as it has not changed for some time it is unusual. I wondered if the walls have been skimmed recently, as the plaster looks new. I think I would spray the spot with Stainstop and see what happens.

DWD

[Dxc712]

Damp meter ?

Photo showing the outside might help

I'll post a photo showing the outside.

The management company have said that repointing needs to be done on the exterior wall. However this work may not take place for a while.

The damp patch appeared after a bout of heavy rain but hasn't changed for months.

As far as a damp meter is concerned, would I need to get a professional to come in and check this?

Thanks

[Dxc712]

Looking at it, it is not a natural place for damp to occur. Just above that point, there would be a lintel for the window frame. A water ingress issue in that area might look like it has worked over the end of the lintel and accumulated in the area below, but as it has not changed for some time it is unusual. I wondered if the walls have been skimmed recently, as the plaster looks new. I think I would spray the spot with Stainstop and see what happens.

DWD

Thanks. The walls were skimmed last year.

What could happen after spraying the patch with Stainstop and would that tell me?

I would like to have the kitchen decorated as soon as possible. As the managment company may not be able to arrange for the repointing to be done anytime soon, would it be possible to have the kitchen decorated except for that patch and then paint where there patch is once the repointing work has been done?

[dewaltdisney]

It could have been contamination in the skim coat, but it is just an isolated spot. A can of Stainstop spray will seal it, and you can paint over it easily. The worst that can happen is any future damp will cause the area to bubble which you can easily deal with by drying out, resealing, and painting over. Keep some paint back so you can match in.

DWD

[Dxc712]

It could have been contamination in the skim coat, but it is just an isolated spot. A can of Stainstop spray will seal it, and you can paint over it easily. The worst that can happen is any future damp will cause the area to bubble which you can easily deal with by drying out, resealing, and painting over. Keep some paint back so you can match in.

DWD

Thanks. The patch appeared after heavy rain and faded but has remained the same for months. This made me think that it could have been a damp patch originally which has since gone but left a stain.

Would there be an issue with spraying Stainstop on it if it turns out to still be a damp patch rather than a stain?

[Dxc712]

Is it OK to have the kitchen walls and ceiling painted except for the damp patch and then paint that after the repointing work has been done?

[dewaltdisney]

Yes, mist coat on that fresh plaster first before top coats. Anticipating your next question a mist coat is a 50/50% mix of water and emulsion. Personally, I would spray it with Stainstop and paint over. It's not a big deal, the worst that can happen is a bit of remedial. See https://www.toolstation.com/stain-block ... int/p89292

DWD