CatherineT
Member
- Messages
- 4
Hello All, I'm new here but suspect I will be a frequent member - hopefully contributing soon, too!
We have lived in a Victorian Terrace for 5 years in Cardiff. We had a survey, which was a bit of doom and gloom in places followed by an independent damp report. The damp and timber consultant suggested some damp but nothing too horrendous. However, it's getting worse and the wood panelling on the walls is deteriorating and seems to have wet rot behind it in the patch I've pulled away. This next week, I'm pulling off the panels and plaster and stripping it back to brick to give it a chance to breathe. I can live with stripped walls for months. I may eventually get it lime plastered. That won't bother me. I'll also remove the skirting. I'll try to give the walls a chance to breathe and dry.
I'm not sure I can do it all in one go, in all honesty - yes, there's the financial aspect but we are all on the autism spectrum and, while I'm less wigged out by the upheaval and keen to get stuck in, my kids and husband will be.
So, my plan of action at the moment and in the short term - I'm going to strip the walls back and lower the outside ground in the first instance. We're also working hard on ventilation throughout the building by ensuring our windows are open etc. I don't think I can do much about the concrete at the moment.
Honestly, I'm worried that it will all be for nought and this won't stop or that it won't reduce the problem in any way. :-(
We have lived in a Victorian Terrace for 5 years in Cardiff. We had a survey, which was a bit of doom and gloom in places followed by an independent damp report. The damp and timber consultant suggested some damp but nothing too horrendous. However, it's getting worse and the wood panelling on the walls is deteriorating and seems to have wet rot behind it in the patch I've pulled away. This next week, I'm pulling off the panels and plaster and stripping it back to brick to give it a chance to breathe. I can live with stripped walls for months. I may eventually get it lime plastered. That won't bother me. I'll also remove the skirting. I'll try to give the walls a chance to breathe and dry.
- We have a concrete underfloor, I think, below the timbers. I'll get that checked and the timbers below it.
- We have a raised concrete path around the edge of the house. I want to get that lowered if possible or maybe compromise on a drain. It's at least level with the interior floorboards, though. Picture in the post.
- It's got a horrible old pointing on the front with at least some concrete. It's breaking up and I'd like that replaced with lime mortar.
- The render has some cracking to it. I will get that done at some point but a Tweet from Peter Ward suggested just hacking the bottom off for now.
I'm not sure I can do it all in one go, in all honesty - yes, there's the financial aspect but we are all on the autism spectrum and, while I'm less wigged out by the upheaval and keen to get stuck in, my kids and husband will be.
So, my plan of action at the moment and in the short term - I'm going to strip the walls back and lower the outside ground in the first instance. We're also working hard on ventilation throughout the building by ensuring our windows are open etc. I don't think I can do much about the concrete at the moment.
Honestly, I'm worried that it will all be for nought and this won't stop or that it won't reduce the problem in any way. :-(