Dampness On Upstairs Chimney Breast - HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oilypants · Post by **oilypants** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:42 pm

We have had a damp problem in our attic bedroom on the chimney breast for the last seven years, around the time we moved into our 100 year old house. Over this time we have had five different builders who have tried to repair our damp problem by concentrating on the outside chimney area. These repairs have included our entire flashing and felt being renewed and any suspect tiles being replaced. The raggle depth is around 3cm. The chimney itself has been treated with a water repellent coating, the pots have been replaced, and an old gas pot (GS1) taken away. We have spent a lot of money over the years and the last few builders I have spoken to have suggested the only alternative is to decommission the chimney. Two of our downstairs rooms have fire places which feed into the chimney but with only one room operational with a living flame gas fire and flue. The bedroom that has the damp has no vent on the breast, nor are there any others that we can see. We are seriously considering decommissioning the chimney but it will be at a considerable cost and we want to ensure we have considered all the possibilities before we decide to go down this expensive route. Any ideas and advice will be most appreciated

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:13 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum.

As you say the pots have been replaced, this would mean that the chimney is still open and so any rain water could get in there, but once it is in there it is difficult to get it back out, a vent would certainly help with that problem. Obviously the vent has to be fitted in the chimney where there is no flue from a fire below.

But to be honest it looks like your problem is caused by a leak around the chimney, probably the flashing.

When the flashing was repaired in the past did you remove the plaster from the inside and let it dry before having it replastered?

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:13 pm

I wondered where this post went

Agree with UHM, the flashings are leaking, you should be able to see signs on the woodwork etc in the loft.

May be just the step flashing on the side has come out.

leebwk · Post by **leebwk** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:54 am

Agree with UHM and Scruff flashings have gone, pricewise i would get a local roofer ie reputable who should really only charge a days work to rectify ie new flashings

vespa · Post by **vespa** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:44 am

A selection of pots that my help you from the link below. This will help with the rain fall entering the chimney, then I would look in your loft to see if the pointing is ok. I had a similar problem this year and it was the pointing between the loft and the roof, water penetrating poor mortal and leaking down the inside of the loft wall from the stack. My problem wasn't as bad as this but I do have a very large Inglenook that has a huge fire burning away. I replace the pot with one that has a hood and re pointed the stack between the loft and the roof, problem solved.

Hope this helps.

http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/wood_burn ... serts.html

justlead1 · Post by **justlead1** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:18 am

Hi the problem is far for unique but can be difficult to resolve. Have a look at http://www.justlead.co.uk here you will find video on chimney DPC and how they work, along with chimney back gutter, flashing etc. This may shed some light on your problem. Good Luck

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:05 am

Good videos Justlead

justlead1 · Post by **justlead1** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:59 pm

Hi. Thanks that's about all i am good for now days. Good luck

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:38 pm

justlead1 wrote:Hi. Thanks that's about all i am good for now days. Good luck

Whats with the plastic dresser

Yuk and thrice Yuk, Boxwood every time

vespa · Post by **vespa** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:11 pm

justlead1 wrote:Hi the problem is far for unique but can be difficult to resolve. Have a look at http://www.justlead.co.uk here you will find video on chimney DPC and how they work, along with chimney back gutter, flashing etc. This may shed some light on your problem. Good Luck

These repairs have included our entire flashing and felt being renewed and any suspect tiles being replaced. The raggle depth is around 3cm. The chimney itself has been treated with a water repellent coating, the pots have been replaced, and an old gas pot (GS1) taken away.

oilypants · Post by **oilypants** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:41 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys. However, the last 2 builders have verified the flashing repairs as being of a good standard and I can't believe the builders have it got it wrong

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:48 pm

Looking at the photo's I will disagree with both your builders

Can you get a close up pic from outside.

Whats your zooooooom like

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:53 pm

oilypants wrote:Thanks for the feedback guys. However, the last 2 builders have verified the flashing repairs as being of a good standard and I can't believe the builders have it got it wrong

It is almost impossible to say for definate without seeing it, trying to answer on a forum is difficult. I had a similar problem with a house once and it was the flashing and some re-pointing that required patching up on the chimney.

When the builders said that the only way to fix it is by "decommissioning the chimney" the chimney what exactly did they mean, as the flue is in the chimney from the fire downstairs

Dampness On Upstairs Chimney Breast - HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dampness On Upstairs Chimney Breast - HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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