My nephew is buying an old cottage with sandstone walls.
the walls are pretty well pointed in limestone and generally in good condition.

The downstairs walls have been checked for damp and there is a small amount but the walls appear to be tanked at least low down. we haven't been able to check any more than that.
Oh a no dampcourse!

He wants to internally insulate the walls using kingspan but someone has mentioned allowing the walls to breathe.

questions!
can you add an injected damp course to this type of wall?
could he seal the outside with a breathable spray on sealant like Blok Lok?
what sort of problems could occur if he just fixes the insulation on the inside of the walls?

thanks for your help

Mike

Hi,

Is the internal plaster lime or gypsum?....don't see a problem with an injected DP but why bother unless you have rising damp?

SSM

_________________
Measure twice, cut once!

We havn't had a chance to dig into the plaster so not sure.
But near the bottom of the wall we did dig a bit and it looked like it was waterproofed cement.

The reason to ask about the dampcourse was to I didnt want to just cover problems up with the insulation and we are not sure about the dampcourse as it has been bone dry up here in norfolk for months.

thanks

Mike

Hi Mike,

Guess you need to wait for winter then? The reason I ask about lime or gypsum plaster is that lime needs to breathe. If there's a sand and cement boot on the internal walls, I'm guessing the DPC has been done already...any documentation in the sellers pack?


SSM

_________________
Measure twice, cut once!

thanks dpc def not been done - can find out about the tanking
I just dont understand the need for the wall to breathe!

why? when it can breathe to the outside does it need to to breathe to the inside?

Mike