StJohn
Member
- Messages
- 2
- Location
- Carmarthenshire
Hi there,
I’ve spent a little time lurking on this forum and have already found it very useful. There’s a lot of good information and advice here, so thank you to everyone who has contributed.
I’ll soon be moving into a farmhouse (not listed) of around 200 years old in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Like many houses that appear on this forum, it’s been extended and renovated in ways that aren’t very sympathetic: outside the stone walls have been covered with cement render and non-breathable paint, while inside there are similar treatments and a concrete floor. Most of this work was done 15–20 years ago and has begun to cause damp issues. In places there’s no drainage at all, so the gutters discharge more or less straight into the foundations, which hasn’t helped.
Our first priorities are: fixing the gutters, installing French drains, and sorting out a few small roof problems. These are jobs I feel reasonably confident about tackling, though I’d be glad of any recommendations for reliable drainage contractors in the area.
Looking ahead, probably in the new year, I’d also like to address the external walls. Ideally I’d like to have the modern masonry paint removed (using a DOFF or similar system), followed by removing the cement pointing and repointing with lime. If anyone can recommend people who do this kind of work locally, or anyone generally knowledgeable about old buildings in Carmarthenshire, I’d be very grateful.
Our aim is to begin tackling the damp issues, and I’m hopeful that good progress can be made by ensuring proper drainage, checking and adjusting the ground levels around the house, removing the non-breathable paint, and repointing at least parts of the exterior with lime. We may also look at adding some ventilation, especially in the cellar. If these measures make a noticeable difference to the current damp problems, we’ll then continue addressing the interior in a piecemeal way as funds and time allow. I’d welcome any thoughts or advice on this approach.
There is, strangely, a YouTube channel that shows many of the unfortunate renovations in progress, which I’ve linked here:
Thank you very much in advance.
I’ve spent a little time lurking on this forum and have already found it very useful. There’s a lot of good information and advice here, so thank you to everyone who has contributed.
I’ll soon be moving into a farmhouse (not listed) of around 200 years old in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Like many houses that appear on this forum, it’s been extended and renovated in ways that aren’t very sympathetic: outside the stone walls have been covered with cement render and non-breathable paint, while inside there are similar treatments and a concrete floor. Most of this work was done 15–20 years ago and has begun to cause damp issues. In places there’s no drainage at all, so the gutters discharge more or less straight into the foundations, which hasn’t helped.
Our first priorities are: fixing the gutters, installing French drains, and sorting out a few small roof problems. These are jobs I feel reasonably confident about tackling, though I’d be glad of any recommendations for reliable drainage contractors in the area.
Looking ahead, probably in the new year, I’d also like to address the external walls. Ideally I’d like to have the modern masonry paint removed (using a DOFF or similar system), followed by removing the cement pointing and repointing with lime. If anyone can recommend people who do this kind of work locally, or anyone generally knowledgeable about old buildings in Carmarthenshire, I’d be very grateful.
Our aim is to begin tackling the damp issues, and I’m hopeful that good progress can be made by ensuring proper drainage, checking and adjusting the ground levels around the house, removing the non-breathable paint, and repointing at least parts of the exterior with lime. We may also look at adding some ventilation, especially in the cellar. If these measures make a noticeable difference to the current damp problems, we’ll then continue addressing the interior in a piecemeal way as funds and time allow. I’d welcome any thoughts or advice on this approach.
There is, strangely, a YouTube channel that shows many of the unfortunate renovations in progress, which I’ve linked here:
Thank you very much in advance.