Damp Spots?

[kat-kin]

Last week I noticed several darkish spots on the lower part of the wall in the hallway. When I touched some they felt damp and today I rubbed 2 and the emulsion paint actually came off damp and clay like. My washing machine is on the other side of that particular wall and doesn't leak from the front but I'm wondering if it might be leaking at the back. The m/c is too heavy for me to pull out so do I get an engineer in or someone to look at the damp? The spots are not rising up and the skirting board's dry. Help please!

[The Builder]

The answer will depend a lot on the construction of the wall.

4/5 inches thick?
Brickwork or timber studwork?
Stone?

Roughly how old is the house?

[kat-kin]

The house was built in 1962 T/B. The walls are brick but not really thick. When I rubbed the 2 spots today I could pink plaster underneath the artex which was there when I moved in but I had it emulsioned over the green shade. That was 10 months ago.

[The Builder]

I think we can rule out the m/w, kat. There would have to be a huge leak to cause water to rise through the plaster.

1962 would certainly suggest that you have a dampcourse in the wall. They can fail, but in this case, unlikely.

Condensation is the most likely cause. Is the affected wall in a cold spot? Perhaps with little or no ventilation?

[kat-kin]

Hi T/B, The house was built in 1962 and the walls are not very thick.

[kat-kin]

My laptops playing up T/B. The damp spot wall is near my porch so it could be that causing condensation and there's the inner porch door that I open and close. I think you solved my problem..Thanks!