Hi to my old friends. I often dip into the forum but haven't 'spoken' on it for a long long time.
I have a really difficult problem which only the very clever will be able to help me solve. It might take a bit of explaining but please stay with me.
I moved into this bungalow 6 years ago and had to modernise it in every way. My bedroom is the big problem. When the ex-owner moved out all the wallpaper(hidden by furniture) was peeling. Daughter and I stripped it put on some anti damp type paint and then re-wallpapered. As time has gone on it has become smellier and smellier until last week I had to move out into the small bedroom because I couldn't sleep and kept sneezing.
John the builder (Fatbird & Co know all about him) removed a lean-to type building which backed onto the room and it was was wet through as it hadn't got a damp proof course so we thought this would solve the problem. He also put in loads of new air vents around the bungalow to circulate the air in the underneath storage area. Then I had cavity wall insulation and loft insulation hoping that would solve the problem but it just kept getting worse. I then tried a damp specialist who sold me a ceiling fan for £700 (it goes up into the attic and circulates air) but that hasn't made any difference. I also contacted a specialist at the council who said that because the bungalow is so high up (remember the 27 steps) bad weather was causing the problem but all my neighbours are just as high up and none of them have any damp of any kind. Through all the specialists and gagets they use they all confirm there is nothing wrong with the damp proof course, it is definitely not dry or wet rot and all seem to agree it's a condensation problem. I now have a new dehumidifier on in there 24 hours. The damp seems to be coming from below rather than above. The room is now devoid of furniture except a couple of chests of drawers. The wall paper is coming off at the bottom again although the walls dont feel particularly damp (this room has three outside walls and just one interior wall). The bottom of my bed was damp and growing mould so I had to buy a new one and that now has a few mold spots on it hence the reason for changing bedrooms. The reason I have to sort it out is that I want to move house as I can no longer manage the steps but the two Estate Agents that came said you could smell the damp and unless I reduce the price dramatically they can't sell it. I've spent about £3,000 trying to sort out this problem but nothing makes the smell go away. Soon (when I feel well enough) daughter and I are going to strip the walls again and remove the carpet and underlay (which were new when I moved in) since I am almost sure the problem is coming from underneath the bungalow (oh yes one building crawled underneath and there seems to be no cracked pipes or anything under there).
Sorry to go on but I am at the end of my tether and bank account so if any of you have any bright ideas I would love to hear from you.
Hi Dustbin, GREAT to hear from you again! Well, wish it wasn't about such a topic but glad to know you're still around. But no idea about your problem, maybe there's a very tiny crack the builders haven't spotted? Are you still avble to get on CQ? I'll post your question on there for you if you want. Hope you stick around now, have missed your posts
Just had a thought Dustbin, why don't you put your post on the C4 Homes Forum? They have a DIY Expert forum, also General Homes, you may get better results asking on those forums - you can't be the only person with that problem. Good luck, hope someone has the answer for you.
Dustbin it's lovely to "see" you again, we've been wondering how you were.
Sorry I can't offer any practical help, can only go along with Fatbird's suggestion and post on the Homes Forum. Hope you soon get sorted out, good luck.
hi dustbin it does sound like a condensation problem,,is it a cold room ?
if you have heating try keeping it on low all the time in the room ,with vent open ,remove the wallpaper and the carpet let it completely dry out ,try wallpapering ,then paint the wallpaper in the special paint for condensation(I've used this got it from wilcos),if your selling get laminate floor and put that down,won't smell if it gets damp.
Hi again to everyone. Sorry I haven't read your posts until today but I've not been too well again. Thanks for your replies. When I wrote the original marothon post I was very very down.
Anyway the news is:
I've been back on the phone to the Council damp specialist chap who came out to see me last November. He is very helpful and seems to know what he's talking about. He asked me loads of questions again and made loads of comments (especially that he is sure it is condensation because the wallpaper is dirty with mold but the wall behind it is completely clean - if it was dirty too he would be sure it was another problem). He's advised to me strip the wallpaper and carpet/underlay from the room, clean all the walls with a bleach/water solution to kill all spores, and then let it all dry out. Next I have to wallpaper the walls with a polystrene type wall insulation which comes on a roll and then wallpaper over it. He says this polystyrene type stuff is very good for condensation and he really thinks this will do the trick! He'd told me about this back in November but thought the dehumidifier was an easier solution, now that hasn't worked he thinks the decorating is the only solution. I'll let you know how it goes but it won't be done for some time (probably after Christmas) as just yet I am not well enough to cope with the upheaval.
Thanks again to all of you. It has been very strange to come back on this site since I have been away so long but I feel very welcome - thanks. As I said before I often have a little peep at what you're all up to but I never can think of anything to say!! I've certainly made up for it with this post. PLEASE KEEP FINGERS CROSSED FOR ME!
Hi Dustbin, great to see you on here & CQ again My fingers & toes are crossed for you, hope you manage to get it sorted, hope you get the polythene stuff put on ok as someone said it tears very easily. Good luck, & let us know how you get on.
Hello Dustbin I was reading your post how awful for you,financially and emotionally I wish I could help you but I would not have a clue whats going on to be honest ,but it must be very stressful for you ,I hope you get it sorted soon I wish you the best of luck
have missed your posts
My fingers & toes are crossed for you, hope you manage to get it sorted, hope you get the polythene stuff put on ok as someone said it tears very easily. Good luck, & let us know how you get on. 
