A
Anonymous
Guest
I purchased a Devon longhouse about two years ago. The building has evolved over the centuries, so there is no definitive "style".
The walls are mainly constructed of stone. However, on the north side there is cob from first floor height. Some of the internal walls are cob too, but again at first floor level.
There was much damp in the house. Concrete floors of various thicknesses were laid directly onto the dirt. Plaster on the walls was coming away.
I relayed the entire ground floor incorporating a DPM. After removing the plaster from the walls i rendered them in limebond. This had been recomended to me as it is a breatheable product. Since doing this the dampness and musty smells disappeared.
I know that there is a well somewhere under the house. Also, because the house is sited halfway down a valley it is possibly susceptable to run off.
I duly decided to tank the walls internally. This was done to a height of 1.5m and then onto the floor about 200mm from the wall. I did this about three months ago.
The weather has been unusually dry since. Then, a couple of days ago we had quite a lot of rain.
To my horror, when i went to check the walls, all the area that was tanked on the north side of the house was damp. Above the tanking the limebond render was dry.
I am wondering if the recent weather may have affected the water table beneath the house and that the tanking has somehow exacerbated the problem.Does anyone out there have any suggestions?
Will.
The walls are mainly constructed of stone. However, on the north side there is cob from first floor height. Some of the internal walls are cob too, but again at first floor level.
There was much damp in the house. Concrete floors of various thicknesses were laid directly onto the dirt. Plaster on the walls was coming away.
I relayed the entire ground floor incorporating a DPM. After removing the plaster from the walls i rendered them in limebond. This had been recomended to me as it is a breatheable product. Since doing this the dampness and musty smells disappeared.
I know that there is a well somewhere under the house. Also, because the house is sited halfway down a valley it is possibly susceptable to run off.
I duly decided to tank the walls internally. This was done to a height of 1.5m and then onto the floor about 200mm from the wall. I did this about three months ago.
The weather has been unusually dry since. Then, a couple of days ago we had quite a lot of rain.
To my horror, when i went to check the walls, all the area that was tanked on the north side of the house was damp. Above the tanking the limebond render was dry.
I am wondering if the recent weather may have affected the water table beneath the house and that the tanking has somehow exacerbated the problem.Does anyone out there have any suggestions?
Will.