Damp Wall - TilersForums.com

[robuphill]

Hi there, I have just bought a new house out here in Gibraltar, it is a funny layout and one bathroom wall is actually below ground so to speak. Consequently for 3 months of the year it will be damp, as i am about to rip the bathroom out and start again i am after some advice on how to seal the damp wall so i can tile over it.

 

[Colour Republic]

How far is it under ground? and has it always been? are you able to dig a trench on the outside so it doesn't have earth stacked up against it? Or is a basment in the true sense? If so you could tank the room (i'm not talking about wetroom membranes here)

 

[robuphill]

The house is built on a hill side, so one wall is in theory a basement

 

[White Room]

Same as Rob, dig the earth away which is up against the wall, are they solid walls

 

[robuphill]

The wall is solid, about 14 inches thick, about 150 years old. When i say damp i dont mean running water but just slightly damp, and only now in the 2/3 month rainy season. I was wondering if i could just batten some plywood up to keep the tiles away from the damp wall and vent it at the top in several places

 

[Colour Republic]

Well really you want to damp proof the walls at it first interior point i.e. at brickwork level. As it is on the hill you will get a fair amount of water running down it so you should always see what you can do to slow it down outside the property, even divert the water if at all possible, it just needs some common sense, also look out for any trees that many be up the hill from the property and close enough to cause problems, i.e. will the leaves block up your gutters every year? as this can be a major cause of damp if they are not kept clear

 

[White Room]

No, this is the same as an old lime wall in the uk, remove the earth thats up against the wall and this should solve the problem.

These old walls have no damp course.

 

[robuphill]

i think i may have confused you both, the block that my house is in is built on a hill, the left hand wall of my bathroom is in effect dug down into the hill, above is a road, unable to remove the earth.

 

[simhopper]

Tank the walls and floor with Oldroyd P tanking membrane and install a drain, This can then be dot and dabbed onto the Oldroyd plaster membrane plugs

Easy enough to DIY and Can be done for less than £1000

 

[White Room]

Gotcha, just a thought could you not dig down and slide a damp proof membrane down past your floor level against the wall.