Bit of a puzzler - so image below - yellow is neighbour's property, green is mine, blue circle is where my water supply enters my property - there is also my gas pipe under there somewhere. On the inside of that wall with the green line is my dining room. 100 years ago there were steps, so most of my dining room was above ground, no problem.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aX6-Zlq53oskX_PhWuk8nQBv7ZVmx4Y1/view?usp=sharing
Now there are utilities and this lovely concrete ramped path. The path is entirely my neighbours, I have access along it but it ain't mine. From presence of gravel etc on neighbour's side, there is some sort of drainage set up going on for him, and he doesn't have a problem.
Now - floor level of my dining room is approx 1 - 1.5m below my nice blue circle as the water supply enters in the bottom corner of my dining room. Neighbour is adamant on maintaining concrete ramped path, so whatever solution I implement would have to essentially end up back at the status quo - but is happy for me to dig up part of the path as long as he keeps his access to his front door during the works and I "put it all back afterwards".
I have lime plaster inside and lime pointing / mortar outside as this was the "easiest" fix - hoping that moisture could leave faster than it arrived, and it does work, the wall does dry out, but dining room wall does stain as inevitably some dirt etc is carried in by the water coming in from outside - in particular around where the water pipe enters the property as it seems to track along it, but also one or two other smaller areas.
Given utilities etc - I'm thinking excavate by hand, geotex membrane up against the wall, install proper perforated pipe french drain as far down as I dare to go before I start messing with the non-existant foundations, backfill with 20m gravel then slap a token 2" concrete on top to satisfy neighbour. Then either "let" the membrane into the wall above ground ( similar to how one does with flashing) or "render" it in with NHL up to 6" or so above the path height.
Thinking is as follows:
1) Stop damp from ground coming in by giving it an easier path away (geotex, drain, gravel)
2) Lime plaster inside should let any other moisture from any other sources (condensation, steam from tandoori chicken etc) back out again through usual breathability stuff - and shouldn't cause stains.
Missed anything?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aX6-Zlq53oskX_PhWuk8nQBv7ZVmx4Y1/view?usp=sharing
Now there are utilities and this lovely concrete ramped path. The path is entirely my neighbours, I have access along it but it ain't mine. From presence of gravel etc on neighbour's side, there is some sort of drainage set up going on for him, and he doesn't have a problem.
Now - floor level of my dining room is approx 1 - 1.5m below my nice blue circle as the water supply enters in the bottom corner of my dining room. Neighbour is adamant on maintaining concrete ramped path, so whatever solution I implement would have to essentially end up back at the status quo - but is happy for me to dig up part of the path as long as he keeps his access to his front door during the works and I "put it all back afterwards".
I have lime plaster inside and lime pointing / mortar outside as this was the "easiest" fix - hoping that moisture could leave faster than it arrived, and it does work, the wall does dry out, but dining room wall does stain as inevitably some dirt etc is carried in by the water coming in from outside - in particular around where the water pipe enters the property as it seems to track along it, but also one or two other smaller areas.
Given utilities etc - I'm thinking excavate by hand, geotex membrane up against the wall, install proper perforated pipe french drain as far down as I dare to go before I start messing with the non-existant foundations, backfill with 20m gravel then slap a token 2" concrete on top to satisfy neighbour. Then either "let" the membrane into the wall above ground ( similar to how one does with flashing) or "render" it in with NHL up to 6" or so above the path height.
Thinking is as follows:
1) Stop damp from ground coming in by giving it an easier path away (geotex, drain, gravel)
2) Lime plaster inside should let any other moisture from any other sources (condensation, steam from tandoori chicken etc) back out again through usual breathability stuff - and shouldn't cause stains.
Missed anything?