Help!?
I’ve been trying to fix a moisture problem on the walls and ceiling in my bathroom. Wetness is around the chimney masonry, which would lead one to believe there is a flashing leak. So I have torn off shingles, put down “Wintergaurd” (2layers) put on new flashings, caulked everything in sight (mainly me, of course) and have a very dry attic. However I still have very (28% according to the SONIN Rapitest) wet walls and ceiling.
Details,
Masonry chimney knocked below roofline, flashed in with sheet metal. Venting only the water heater. 2’x2′ against exterior wall and interior partition
Masonry chimney surrounding waste stack. stops below roofline. 1’x1′ against chimney and inside partition.
moisture is on walls of both chimneys and on the vaulted part of the ceiling in the pockets for the chimneys and one pocket over (16″)
there is no moisture on the hallway side of the partition.
The walls haven’t dried much in 3 weeks and have seemed to increase in moisture at two points. One time there had been no rain, second time there had been.
I have a raincap on both stacks, I’ve been in the attic during the rain. No water there.
Does it take that long to dry out waterlogged brick?
Where the he.. is the new moisture coming from??
Replies
Two possible suspects come to my mind, if I understand you right.
First is weeping trough the masonry. Seal it on the exterior with a sealer made for masonry.
Second is harder. It may be from condensation on the cold surface. This is an exterior wall it is on so the masonry could be staying colder than the air space. This attacts condesation from interior humidity. It is a large chimney for only venting a gas(?) water heater so there not much chance for heat to be reserved in the mass of the masonry. For that matter, the gas combustion produces water vapour as a by-product. Is the chimnney lined or just block lifts?
Chimney is lined. (6 inch pipe), but I'm not sure that the liner is intact all the way down. Seemed to vent properly when I was sucking exhaust while flashing, but who knows. As for condensation, I have thought of this, but thought there was too much moisture for that.
The ceiling is plaster/lath, with texture over that. From the attic, both plaster and lath test dry. Would this encourage a condesation theory?
Possible.
I have seen old plastered himes that haad water running down the walls this time of year from condensation. Whart sources of moisture in home other than breaathing? Crawlspace damp?Excellence is its own reward!
IT's a bathroom, upstairs of a 2 story. I put in a bath fan, and cut 1" off the bottom of the door to ventilate. First time I saw moisture increase, I seem to remeber it was after at least 8 hours of no activity in the room.
Ok, so, solutions? I'm about down to tearing the masonry down to the floor and framing with wood, insulation, drywall. any easier possibilities?