Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Dec 18, 2011 10:32 am Hi All, I was talking to a neighbour this morning and they mentioned that they had an issue with damp in the lower courses of brickwork. The issue has presented itself with some moss growth, and also some shoots of grass in another area. Thankfully, the issues is below the damp proof course and at the moment it appear as though it isn't spreading. As history to the issue, the damp first presented itself after some heavy rainfall somewhere over the last couple of months. The area is slightly covered, however is still partly exposed to the elements. I believe after the rains, there were a number of areas along the same side of the house where the ground was damp. A tradesman that did some work at the house is unsure of what the cause of the damp may be and the builder suggested that it is not their job to troubleshoot the problem, only fix it if a defect is discovered... Currently the area doesn't feel damp and the soil beside the side of the house effected is not damp. The soil in the area is clay, and after the amount of rainfall (Nth East Melbourne) over the past couple of months, there is some residual moisture in the soil. What could be causing the problem? - Could it be that a large downpour caused dampness in the area leading to the problem? - Could it be caused by ground water hitting the slab? (waffle pod I believe) - What depth would ground water be found? The house is on a higher level than the properties to the rear. I've attached some images that I hope will explain things a little better. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ If anyone has any ideas, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Regards, D. Re: Issues with Damp 2Dec 18, 2011 12:09 pm Looks like standing water on the pavement, possibly wind blown, has caused this. I wouldn't think its a great problem as long as its below the damp course and it dries out within about a week of rain. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Issues with Damp 3Dec 19, 2011 4:36 am I cant see any damp course membrane above the paving, suggesting they have raised the paving above it allowing moisture to bridge the membrane and enter the wall. If this is fact it rapidly becomes a very big problem Arfur Have look at your house plans and you will probably find that brick articulation joint has been missed. Maximum allowable spacing is 6M or 5.5M for a wall with window… 17 20617 Firstly the ableflex that has been installed needs (manufactures specification) a sealant cap over the top, preventing water draining down between the slab and the… 3 7795 Hi all Am new to this forum. I want to get some ideas/info about how to manage an 80 year old factory restoration to convert to a residence. The factory floor is concrete… 0 6346 |