Stone Built House Dampness/Coldness

farmer2018

Looking for some advice on a stone wall built house which has some dampness issues and cold. Would external wall slabbing solve some of the problem or all? Anyone that has experience with this advice welcome please.

Yellow_Fern

Fir dampness, watch all of Peter Ward's videos on Youtube.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123184587#Comment_123184587

Damp at the cills or where? If so there was a thread on here in the past on that (maybe in ~2020). You could try revive it if so.

MicktheMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058397048/stone-built-house-dampness-coldness

Would external wall slabbing solve some of the problem or all

There are so many variables at play here that it is not possible to answer with the (lack of) info / detail given. You might well make it worse by adding inappropriate ewi!

Your best bet is to find an experienced expert to visit & advise (note: not an insulation salesman or company)

farmer2018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123184947#Comment_123184947

The main issue is it's a cold house rather than damp. 20k I've been quoted to do ewi.

The Continental Op

Well having lived in plenty of cold damp stone built houses all I can recommend is stick your hand in your pocket or put some effort in and heat it. We have a couple of wood burning stoves and can keep an old cold damp house perfectly dry and livable. If you are out at work all day then sorry, tough, your living in the wrong type of house.

External cladding might well help but you will still need to put heat in to make the house comfortable.

Sorry to be so blunt but I've seen loads of people suffer thinking they can live in an old cottage in exactly the same way they can a modern house in the town.

looksee

Also if there are no foundations - ie, the house is standing on a layer of rocks - there is not much point in insulating the walls.

monseiur

Step 1. Dig a continuous deep trench around the house (all 4 sides) and continue this drain in the direction of a natural fall away from the house. Place a 4 inch perforated pipe in trench and fill to top with washed pebbles - this drain will ensure that the high water table will remain well below your floor at all times.

Step 2. Dig up all floors to a dept of 10 to 12 inches - level off with clause 804 or similar then fit 4 inch flooring grade insulation board finished off with 5 inch floor screed reinforced with A142 mesh. You can put central heating pipes underfloor too - underfloor heating is another option to consider.

Step 3. Upgrade all windows & doors to double glazed uPVC or better still triple glazed if budget allows. If house is in an exposed area add a storm porch with sliding patio door.

Step 4. Hack off all plaster both internal & external and apply three or four thick coats of lime render plaster - this will allow walls to 'breath' and stay dry. Also this render has some insulation properties on internal walls.

Step 4. Insulate attic to at least 12''

looksee

Re-plastering with lime plaster may be an option if you are very handy and willing to learn how to do it, there are very few people doing it professionally, so they are much in demand. Ordinary plasterers are not usually willing to do it, its too much trouble (I was told by several). Its generally considered the best solution to old houses, but of course every situation is different, you may be better to get advice from someone experienced in old buildings. Your average builder/engineer/architect generally hasn't a clue.

farmer2018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123185847#Comment_123185847

I understand what you are saying, a specialist in this type of work but trying to get the right person is the problem..

looksee

Totally agree! Have you seen this site, it may be of interest

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1268506029911629

its Cottageology - Renovation & Appreciation of Older Irish Homes

(Boards will not allow a full link, its c/p)