Damp Chimney breast

sosage · Post by **sosage** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:59 am

I have damp on the bottom right hand corner ( as you look at it) of a chimney breast. The rest of the stack is fine. It has been capped and the top of the stack was recently repointed. But the problem at the bottom seems to be getting slowly worse. There is a vent at the bottom behind a book case. Any one got any ideas what to do?! It is in a room I work from and the linig paper has lifted away from the wall and it is now looking distinctly unproffessional! Please help I am a damsel in distress!!

python · Post by **python** » Sun May 17, 2009 5:06 pm

if you have pictures that would help.

What type of building is it? Cavity wall? Solid stone wall? Age of building?

How long have you had the problem?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:37 pm

If it is capped at the top, the vent is almost useless.

The normal idea is that the chimney is left open and then the wind blowing over the top of the chimney pots sucks air up the chimney through the vent. Then any moisture in the chimney is also sucked out along with the flow of air.

If the chimney is capped, there will be little air flow and this could be causing the problem.

sosage · Post by **sosage** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:33 pm

No idea about the walls but it is an outside wall. We are end of terrace but our wall is a boundary wall for next door and I know they have some plants climbing up the outside of the chimney. The age of the house is 1890. Is it worth opening up the top and letting the whole thing breath? I'll try to post photos!