UK A mysterious phenomenon.

[denise allen]

Hi all.

The attached photo shows an anomaly which was present when I moved in about 10 years ago. In that time it seems to have grown ever so slightly, at a glacial pace, but this may be my imagination. Haven't a clue if it is to do with the socket (which is working) the masonry, or an interplay between the two.

The socket is mounted on the inside of an exterior brick wall built of typical Victorian brickwork, on plaster which may or may not be contemporaneous with the house, but which is definitely old. The wall looks completely normal on the outside.

The affected area looks and feels damp, but this is very localised. The adjacent area is dry, and RH in the room is usually between 50-60%.

Does anyone know- or can hazard an educated guess as to what's causing it?

Thank you for taking the time to read.

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

The wall is damp causing the metal back box to rot.The brown staining is rust.It needs sorting out asap.

 

[denise allen]

Thanks Bob- I'll get right on it.

 

[BiddeldyBwah]

Wrong plaster for the wall, holding in moisture.

Hack off and replace with lime.

 

[telectrix]

Wrong plaster for the wall, holding in moisture.

Hack off and replace with lime.

helps prevent scurvy, as our navy found out in the days before electric ships, . hence the nickname limeys.

 

[denise allen]

Wrong plaster for the wall, holding in moisture.

Hack off and replace with lime.

OK, I can do that.I don't think that hardwall plaster extends over the whole wall. Sorry if this Q is off-topic, but have you any idea why it's occurring in that one small area? The adjacent plaster is completely dry.

 

[BiddeldyBwah]

OK, I can do that.I don't think that hardwall plaster extends over the whole wall. Sorry if this Q is off-topic, but have you any idea why it's occurring in that one small area? The adjacent plaster is completely dry.

Sometimes it just chooses an area of weakness (in this case could be besides the back box of the socket) and goes for that.

The clue is in the fact that it's a Victorian house which means the building will need to breathe.

Damp is always a symptom of some problem, not the cause, and so we need to find out what is causing the damp. It's usually using materials that are unsympathetic to the building, or something like leaking drains/gutters/earth built up too close to the house etc.

Damp coming from inside of walls to the outside is almost always the fact that moisture is able to ingress somewhere but then cannot escape because modern materials are not breathable. Lime holds onto moisture and dissipates it gradually which is why it works to combat damp, but the ingress will need to be found and dealt with too to have maximum effect.

If the problem persists i recommend getting in touch with Heritage House, they are the experts in this area and the people i take my opinion from. Theirs is the only advice in the UK that i know of that is backed up by their own scientific data done in controlled testing environments. Doing such tests they proved that 'rising damp' isn't real, damp proof courses aren't needed and DPC injections are a fraudulent waste of money.

 

[Strima]

Sorry if this Q is off-topic, but have you any idea why it's occurring in that one small area? The adjacent plaster is completely dry.

The backbox in the socket will be creating a cold spot allowing condensation to build up, it would be worth investigating behind it to see if you can insulate behind it.

 

[pc1966]

That looks quite an old socket. If you are replacing the back-box then probably worth considering a new socket such as one of these:

MK Logic Plus 13A 2-Gang DP Switched Plug Socket White - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Double pole switched socket. Easy to install. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[denise allen]

Sometimes it just chooses an area of weakness (in this case could be besides the back box of the socket) and goes for that.

The clue is in the fact that it's a Victorian house which means the building will need to breathe.

Damp is always a symptom of some problem, not the cause, and so we need to find out what is causing the damp. It's usually using materials that are unsympathetic to the building, or something like leaking drains/gutters/earth built up too close to the house etc.

Damp coming from inside of walls to the outside is almost always the fact that moisture is able to ingress somewhere but then cannot escape because modern materials are not breathable. Lime holds onto moisture and dissipates it gradually which is why it works to combat damp, but the ingress will need to be found and dealt with too to have maximum effect.

If the problem persists i recommend getting in touch with Heritage House, they are the experts in this area and the people i take my opinion from. Theirs is the only advice in the UK that i know of that is backed up by their own scientific data done in controlled testing environments. Doing such tests they proved that 'rising damp' isn't real, damp proof courses aren't needed and DPC injections are a fraudulent waste of money.

Thank you for your reply- If I can't get to the bottom of the problem I'll seek expert advice, as you suggest.

 

[denise allen]

That looks quite an old socket. If you are replacing the back-box then probably worth considering a new socket such as one of these:

MK Logic Plus 13A 2-Gang DP Switched Plug Socket White - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Double pole switched socket. Easy to install. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Not only old, but ugly. I will replace it with the sort you recommend, thank you.