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Do special external paints and coatings actually make a difference? My parents have been quoted a hefty amount for a special treatment process and it just sounds a little dodgy to me. Wouldn't more ventilation be a better solution or has paint technology actually moved on?
Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation
Www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/controlling-humidity.html
Any downsides to render removal?
No, or only a temporary fix, typically Victorian houses have lime mortar and bricks that need to breathe , render them and after some time the render leaks water into the original walls that then cannot breathe - damp.
The proper way to fix it is to remove the render and redo it. Or if its a specific area investigate the source of damp - gutters etc.
Ventilation ventilation equals cold and whinging parents....
The HH site above has some specific advice here.
https://www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/managing-damp-in-old-buildings.html
If it’s a waterproof cement render then pull it off and do something suitably breathable. That’s all.
Not sure the Victorians knew what they were doing with cement render. The Charles Rennie MacIntosh "Hill House" in Helensburgh from 1904 was rendered and for visual style left out traditional features like sills and roof overhangs which help get water away from the walls. Not ideal for a west of Scotland climate. Hailed as a masterpiece but couldn't keep the rain out.
After previous renovation attempts over the years the latest idea is to enclose it in a scaffold tent to dry it out before doing repairs/renovation. .
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Main problem I have with mine is the most exposed exterior wall. It gets all the rain and wind and that's the one that gets damp. Condensation I assume is the problem and anything put up against the wall will guarantee mold growth. There's a thought also, in that modern houses are maybe a bit too warm, so more condensation.
Doesn't help the walls are single width, or rather no cavity.
We had same problem, also with damp proofed plaster on inside.
we ripped off internal plaster, exposed the brick, put batons on then insulated plaster board leaving an air gap between this and the brick. Air can get in under the skirting and out through holes in the ceiling to the void above. Room is now a couple of inches narrower, but warmer and no evidence of damp.
This was a year ago, so far, it’s great.