exterior rendering and damp

tuttifruitti76 · Post by **tuttifruitti76** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:51 pm

Can anyone give me some advice.
I have a small bit of rendering to the front of my house and it goes down to the floor. Some of the rendering, mainly at the bottom, has come off. Having had three quotes, only the third said I needed the bottom of the rendering removing and a drip bead applying, together with bitumen coating. His quote is also three times the cheapest for all this extra work.
Can anyone tell me if this is correct? I have no damp proof course in the wall and no signs of damp inside (but this is also below the floor level of the house anyway). Or could he be trying it on? Any help would be welcome. Many thanks.

chippymike · Post by **chippymike** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:46 pm

no damp proof at all not even a slate tile? how old is the place?

tuttifruitti76 · Post by **tuttifruitti76** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:59 pm

It is a Victorian house but it is only at the front that there is no damp proof course. There is a ventilated area below the floor (it is this part that is rendered externally, with ventilation bricks) due to being on a hill. Not sure if that makes sense!!!
Cheers

tuttifruitti76 · Post by **tuttifruitti76** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:00 pm

Oh, forgot to say there is a row of those grey (architectural ?) bricks.
Cheers

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:29 pm

The render should not go down to the floor, often there is a gap of about 5 inches or more between the floor and the start of the render.

leebwk · Post by **leebwk** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:44 pm

Hi tutti,

Those grey bricks may well be a very early type of engineering brick and the 2 courses are probably acting as you dpc, any render on or below these will be subject to damp and also acting as a bridge for damp as UHM as said there should be no render below the dpc.
Personally i would go with the builder/plasterer who quoted you for a drip bead and painting with RIW or if the bricks are sound then have them raked out and repointed as you will never be able to remove the RIW ie bitumen when it has been applied.
Hope this helps

tuttifruitti76 · Post by **tuttifruitti76** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:38 pm

Thanks Leebwk. That is helpful.