Advice - exposed brick/damp behind skirting

[Hibsred]

Hi there

Bought an old lower villa recently (early 1900s). Back room is an extension (still likely to be at least 50 yrs old) which has a concrete floor.

Re-decorating, so lifted the carpet and underlay and there was some isolated moisture at the edge of the floor at one wall (where external stairs to the upper villa run - also think the interior ground level is lower than exterior anyway). There's only a couple of patches and they don't come out from the wall any more than a few inches.

Anyway, then removed the skirting and it looks like the previous owner cut away some of the plaster along the foot of the wall some time ago to fit some sockets (maybe up to a couple of inches off the floor). I've since read this might actually be cut short to prevent damp. Confused!!!

I've ran a dehumidifier for a few days and it's drying out the moisture patches at the edges.

I'm just looking for some simple advice about what I could do before refitting the skirting, ideally to cut off the moisture getting through from the exposed brick more than anything.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1000344833 ... 8420630546


Cheers

[welsh brickie]

no its normal,the plaster can suck up moisture from the concrete floor so its cut back to stop it.Also the back of the skirting is painted with a damp roof paint to prevent it rotting.

[Hibsred]

Thanks, makes sense. Do you know if there's anything I can do to stop moisture getting through at the foot of the wall from the brick behind?

Also, I've just noticed - the other half of this particular wall (situated the right of the area shown in the pic) has different internal construction - whereas the entire wall area up to the ceiling in the pic above seems to be plasterboard entirely (with a 'gap' between it and the brick behind) the OTHER half to the right is solid plaster, that I'm guessing is bonded much closer to the brick behind. One area of the lower wall on that side has a bit of a damp patch.

[welsh brickie]

I would paint synthapruf on the wall,behind the skirting.The gap can be filled with expanding foam,which is waterproof.The plasterboard on the wall is stuck with drywall adhesive hench the gap.