A tower of Yorkshire Puddings
Things are happening in Pudding Towers. We had the living gas fire replaced and then today we had a new window fitted at the top of the stairs. The old one was almost certainly put in place when the house was built in 1925. It was what they call single-skinned but the new UPVC plastic window is double-glazed so it should help to push back the winter chills that await us.
On Monday, our leather Lay-Zee-Boy sofas were taken away to be reupholstered and in the interim we shall have a new carpet fitted in our small front room. Also, before the sofas return, we will need to decorate the front room.
I went out this very evening to the giant B&Q store on Queens Road to purchase pots of paint and other decorating essentials. I spent over a hundred pounds but I didn't mind that too much as the labour will be free. I hope to have the ceiling painted by this time tomorrow in spite of having Little Phoebe with us most of the day.
Of course the fly in the ointment remains the damp issue we first noticed last week - right next to the bay window. I have done three things to address it - including cutting back the privet hedge that used to touch the wall right next to the bay window. However, I am by no means sure that I have identified the source of the dampness. After our incredibly dry summer we now seem to be getting rained on most days and that does not help my detective work.
In relation to houses, water can be a very fickle phenomenon. It may be really difficult to locate the sources of problems and leaks may travel from unexpected spots. I guess we are just going to have to hold back from decorating that corner of the room until we nail the issue.
At least we are not in Ukraine, Somalia or Java in Indonesia. I guess I have little to moan about in the grand scheme of things but still...
You are doing the right thing by renovating and keeping your house in good repair. I hope you find a solution to the water problem.
ReplyDeleteWe have never before had a damp issue in that area so it remains a puzzle.
DeleteMy ex and I were conned into an expensive "roof restoration" not long after buying our place. I have since realised how stupid that was but the upside it that the roof was inspected and re-pointed and we've never had to deal with a leak.
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck
Thanks. I need it.
DeleteWe'll need to see photos of your newly decorated front room when it's all done. Hopefully you'll find the cause of the water problem sooner rather than later. Enjoy your day with Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteNo decorating can happen with Phoebe around.
DeleteGreat picture - that would be the perfect "Christmas tree" for Pudding Towers!
ReplyDeleteDamp in the house is a worry, as it could spread and lead to so many unpleasant things. Hopefully, cutting the hedge helped, and your detective work will yield a result. In the meantime, happy decorating! I am sure Phoebe will be eager to help.
No decorating will happen when Phoebe is around.
DeleteI understand your concerns about the damp issue. Our old stone house is susceptible to damp from condensation around the windows. As it is a Registered Building we are not allowed to replace them with double glazed, water and draught proof units. I hope you can soon identify and fix your issue.
ReplyDeleteHappy decorating!
Thanks JayCee.
DeleteWe have a similar problem to your damp, but ours is actually rain dripping through the corner of the ceiling above the velux windows on a sloping roof. P has been on the roof on numerous occasions and cleared leaves, and re-aligned flashing etc, but still it comes. (It drips into a bucket at the side of my chair) Expecting it to start soon as it has been raining for a while! Good luck finding your dampness.
ReplyDeleteDamp and drips can cause misery and yet the root cause can often be very simple.
DeleteI would think identifying the cause of the damp would be a number one priority. I plan on having double glazed windows if I ever have the chance to buy or build a house again. My brother has just recently had several windows double glazed and the sliding doors onto his patio. What is your plan to keep Phoebe out of the paint cans?
ReplyDeleteMy plan to keep Phoebe out of the paint cans is not to do any work while she is with us. We arranged a date for the re-upholstery and ordered the carpet and it was only after doing those things that we found the damp issue so we have to press on River.
DeleteWell as it is raining all the time keeping you from walking, household jobs fill in a space. We had the same problem with a damp wall, which was put down to the rain coming in from a different direction. Also in this old house, chimney pots on roofs seem to suffer if the lead around the outside of the bricks move. Phoebe will be up the ladder after you!
ReplyDeleteShe would make a good apprentice. I wonder if you can get work gear for small girls - including work boots and a hard hat.
DeleteLanguage always different. We buy tins of paint, not pots. I very much doubt the privet hedge causes interior damp. Your have a damp course problem. £££'s.
ReplyDeleteNo we do not have a damp course problem and hedges and bushes can certainly cause damp issues by retaining water or acting as a kind of springboard onto the brickwork. This possibility is well-documented. Over a long period of time the mortar can become soaked and within the wall the dampness might spread and emerge on internal walls.
DeleteAre there any external air bricks covered up with mortar?
ReplyDeleteNo. But thanks for considering this possibility Dave.
DeleteI love a good house project, making the nest more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteBest done without any dampness.
DeleteNice tower of goodness. Enjoy the painting.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for painting on your own. I want to paint our bathroom but I'm not feeling very motivated! Maybe you'll inspire me. I was seriously considering hiring someone.
ReplyDeleteWell, good luck. And remember- there are people who do things like find and repair leaks for a living. If you can't figure it out on your own, help can be hired.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to the bottom of your water ingress problem. There's few things on a house more irritating.
ReplyDeleteI love your namesake Christmas tree and it goes well with the painted doorways. Good luck with finding the cause of and the solution to that dampness.
ReplyDeleteHow annoying the damp issue must be, and not always easy to resolve.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought - you've said that your house is semi-detached, is the damp on the attached side, and could the problem be from that house, seeping into yours?