Hi, we got someone in to redecorate our lounge (in our 1970's semi) last august and as the walls werent smooth enough to simply paint after the wallpaper was scraped off, we had the walls skimmed. It was painted the next day and knowing nothing about re plastering we didn't think anything of it, however now every time it rains we get a smell of damp plaster. We didnt have any damp problems prior to the redecorating and have looked everwhere and there are no visible signs of damp or mould and it only smells after it has rained, so is it that it wasnt left to dry sufficiently before painting? or does it suggest a more serious problem?
Any thoughts would be appreciated, as the smell is driving me mad! cheers

Hi,

Having the exact same problem. Could do with some assistance as well. I've seen people suggest using a dehumidifier so maybe I'll give that a shot this weekend. Will keep checking this too.

AS you will know if you have ever plastered, plastering uses a lot of water. Plaster takes about 24 hours to dry out for every millimeter of thickness. Depending on the walls and the skill of the plasterer, the plaster would be 2mm or more thick.

In all probability the wall did not dry before painting.

However, if the room was kept warm all the time, the heat from the air would push the damp outwards. Damp always moves towards cold, so the wall would have dried in a few days.

If, the room swings between warm and cold, possibly you turn the heating off or down every day/night?
If you keep the windows closed during the winter?
If you do not have extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom?
If you have them, but don't use them?
If you do not keep the kitchen and bathroom doors closed at all times.
Then it is quite likely that you are adding water vapour to the home every day and night, it is making its way to those cold damp walls and the problem will not go away until later in the summer (if we have one).