Hi All
Another quick post from me for my soggy front wall. In winter we have concrete portal surrounds that seem to suck up moisture (see attached image)
Looks like it's a mix of soak aways no longer working, and dodgy drainage (they're 1940's houses built quickly and after drain surveys it appears our drain is knackered, but so are lots of others - so in effect, unless everyone on the street claims or gets council to fix - it's not going away)
My question is, if I were to lime the bottom say 18" of the wall - would this allow the moisture coming up from the saturated ground outside to evaporate effectively - instead of travelling up the wall?
Image example of how the moisture travels through the porous concrete door portal surrounds. You can see how bricks are staying dry, but the concrete is saturated - which then dumps water into any finish on the wall.
Original render under a gypsum skim appears to be a concrete / lime mix. Fizzes a bit in vinegar but definitely has Portland in it too. (pretty sure house is 1947)
Thanks in advance for ideas. Floor is solid concrete with bitumen paint as a DPM as originally built.
Another quick post from me for my soggy front wall. In winter we have concrete portal surrounds that seem to suck up moisture (see attached image)
Looks like it's a mix of soak aways no longer working, and dodgy drainage (they're 1940's houses built quickly and after drain surveys it appears our drain is knackered, but so are lots of others - so in effect, unless everyone on the street claims or gets council to fix - it's not going away)
My question is, if I were to lime the bottom say 18" of the wall - would this allow the moisture coming up from the saturated ground outside to evaporate effectively - instead of travelling up the wall?
Image example of how the moisture travels through the porous concrete door portal surrounds. You can see how bricks are staying dry, but the concrete is saturated - which then dumps water into any finish on the wall.
Original render under a gypsum skim appears to be a concrete / lime mix. Fizzes a bit in vinegar but definitely has Portland in it too. (pretty sure house is 1947)
Thanks in advance for ideas. Floor is solid concrete with bitumen paint as a DPM as originally built.