Possible dampness issues

romaderwdcsax

See attached pictures.

Ive only included one picture of one window but all windows in the house have similar issues, apart from windows in new extension which are fine.

Spots above windows, would they have anything to do with external insulation?

House was built in 1930s and renovated 2 years ago, kitchen extension and externally insulated all round.

Due to covid i cant actually view the house in person, can only go on pictures that ive seen on daft.

Thinking of buying and just wondering if these are major issues or an easy fix

MicktheMan

Are you sure the walls are externally insulated?

From the pics posted, it would appear to be internally insulated with insulated pb and the mechanical fixings used are not thermally broken. Hence the darker polka dot pattern.
These darkened spots is a telltale sign of an imbalance in the heating/ventilation/moisture load dynamic. Relatively easily solved.

romaderwdcsax

MicktheMan wrote: »

Are you sure the walls are externally insulated?

From the pics posted, it would appear to be internally insulated with insulated pb and the mechanical fixings used are not thermally broken. Hence the darker polka dot pattern.
These darkened spots is a telltale sign of an imbalance in the heating/ventilation/moisture load dynamic. Relatively easily solved.

During renovations, they wrapped the old original walls in thick external insulation. That’s what we’re being told by the estate agent.

mad m

MicktheMan wrote: »

Are you sure the walls are externally insulated?

From the pics posted, it would appear to be internally insulated with insulated pb and the mechanical fixings used are not thermally broken. Hence the darker polka dot pattern.
These darkened spots is a telltale sign of an imbalance in the heating/ventilation/moisture load dynamic. Relatively easily solved.

How to solve? Seen it on a number of occasions where ext wall was insulated and cold bridge caused by mushroom fixings or as they used to say years ago, pattern staining...

BryanF

romaderwdcsax wrote: »

During renovations, they wrapped the old original walls in thick external insulation. That’s what we’re being told by the estate agent.

What you are referring to is ‘internal insulation’ or ‘drylining’ or ‘cosy board’ or insulated plasterboard slabs’

As this is a speculative question, it’s very difficult to offer advice, as you can’t answer the standard questions like,
1. Is the house heated regularly
2. Is it adequately ventilated
3. What thickness of dry-lining?
4. What’s the external wall make up
5. Is there any signs of broken gutters etc outside
6. Etc etc

For those thinking of installing drylining ‘internal insulation’ - this is the real consequence. Yes plastic fixings might help ‘hide’ the visual signs of dampness, but it doesn’t solve the real issue of what’s happening behind the boards, in terms of condensation leading to mould etc.

shtpEdthePlum

How to fix this? Getting actual external insulation installed?

Markcheese

Remember ,an estate agent can say pretty much anything ... Right or wrong , he's just a sales guy..
It looks like the external walls have been insulated - not the walls have been externally insulated...
Big difference ... ,
( I suppose The previous owner may have done both,)

romaderwdcsax

Unfortunately due to covid i can’t view the house in person with an engineer but my question is would it put ye off the house going on those pictures?

romaderwdcsax

BryanF wrote: »

What you are referring to is ‘internal insulation’ or ‘drylining’ or ‘cosy board’ or insulated plasterboard slabs’

As this is a speculative question, it’s very difficult to offer advice, as you can’t answer the standard questions like,
1. Is the house heated regularly
2. Is it adequately ventilated
3. What thickness of dry-lining?
4. What’s the external wall make up
5. Is there any signs of broken gutters etc outside
6. Etc etc

For those thinking of installing drylining ‘internal insulation’ - this is the real consequence. Yes plastic fixings might help ‘hide’ the visual signs of dampness, but it doesn’t solve the real issue of what’s happening behind the boards, in terms of condensation leading to mould etc.

No unfortunately I can’t answer those questions or I can’t get an engineer into look at it at the moment

romaderwdcsax

Unfortunately due to covid i can’t view the house in person with an engineer but my question is would it put ye off the house going on those pictures?

Calahonda52

romaderwdcsax wrote: »

Unfortunately due to covid i can’t view the house in person with an engineer but my question is would it put ye off the house going on those pictures?

It depends on the price
I don't believe its EWI, more like IWI with the metal mushroom fittings which would suggest IWI only.

What would concern me, greatly, is what the wall construction was back in 1930 and did the renovation respect that.
Post some pictures of the outside, the better idea is post the daft link