Hi
We bought a late 60's house recently (had it surveyed and fixed all issues that were found at the time). I removed the wallpaper from the dining room downstairs 3 weeks ago, and noticed one area against the outside wall, above the window, where the wallpaper was already coming off and some dark dust covering the plaster underneath. It was easily cleaned, the wall was dry and undamaged, so I didn't think much of it.
Yesterday, the rain was driven into the east facing wall most of the day, and I noticed a damp patch growing in that area where the wallpaper had came off. The water comes from the joint between the ceiling and the upstairs floor, although the ceiling is not wet at all, only the wall. Clearly, this had happened before as the wallpaper had been coming off the wall, but it must not happen too often as it had rained before and I had not noticed anything on the bare wall.
Upon inspection of the wall outside, we see a hairline crack in the pebbledash render coming from the window upstairs, directly above where the stain is. The bottom of the crack is nowhere near the stain, but I suspect the water gets in the top of that crack, runs down and pools at the floor joint, coming through the wall there. The upstairs bedroom wall and floor are fully dry.
The roof was completely repaired only last month with waterproof felt membrane put in, new timber, cement verge redone, chimney flashing, etc. Gutters were also cleaned.
I don't have any idea who to contact for this. I need to confirm that the source of the leak is indeed this hairline crack, and have it repaired. But I don't fancy anyone taking chunks off the wall to find it. I heard of infrared investigation and will try that first. But who do I contact? A builder, a damp specialist, my insurance?
Thanks
We bought a late 60's house recently (had it surveyed and fixed all issues that were found at the time). I removed the wallpaper from the dining room downstairs 3 weeks ago, and noticed one area against the outside wall, above the window, where the wallpaper was already coming off and some dark dust covering the plaster underneath. It was easily cleaned, the wall was dry and undamaged, so I didn't think much of it.
Yesterday, the rain was driven into the east facing wall most of the day, and I noticed a damp patch growing in that area where the wallpaper had came off. The water comes from the joint between the ceiling and the upstairs floor, although the ceiling is not wet at all, only the wall. Clearly, this had happened before as the wallpaper had been coming off the wall, but it must not happen too often as it had rained before and I had not noticed anything on the bare wall.
Upon inspection of the wall outside, we see a hairline crack in the pebbledash render coming from the window upstairs, directly above where the stain is. The bottom of the crack is nowhere near the stain, but I suspect the water gets in the top of that crack, runs down and pools at the floor joint, coming through the wall there. The upstairs bedroom wall and floor are fully dry.
The roof was completely repaired only last month with waterproof felt membrane put in, new timber, cement verge redone, chimney flashing, etc. Gutters were also cleaned.
I don't have any idea who to contact for this. I need to confirm that the source of the leak is indeed this hairline crack, and have it repaired. But I don't fancy anyone taking chunks off the wall to find it. I heard of infrared investigation and will try that first. But who do I contact? A builder, a damp specialist, my insurance?
Thanks