Damp flaking walls

Nats
by Nats
I live in Greece on an Island and the house is built into the mountain and a roads distance away from the sea... we are not too far up either. When winter starts and the rains and humidity begin, we start having problems with the external walls which are on the mountain side. water seeps through the concrete in the ' basement ( ground level). We also have on the mountain side, again on the 1st Level. Damp rising and dripping wall. What do you suggest is the best repair work that we can apply to this problem. we were going to sand off the chipped and flaking paint and ten apply a sealing agent. Some hardware store owner suggested we put a layer of cork and then paint. Please could you give us some solutions? thank you!
  4 answers
  • William William on Oct 12, 2016
    I don't know if this is available in Greece, but you may be able to purchase it online. ***** http://www.drylok.com/formulas/drylok-extreme...
    • Nats Nats on Oct 17, 2016
      THANK YOU to everybody who has given me some very good pointers. I agree that we have to locate the problem, fix that and then move on to the next level . It is the mountain side that has all the problem. I also believe cork is not a solution, instead it will only create more trouble but I had to let you hear what I was told... and I thank you again for confirming my my concerns on this material being used as a barrier.
  • Charles Prock Charles Prock on Oct 12, 2016
    William's answer seems reasonable...I can't imagine someone suggesting putting cork on the wall as this would soak water and you would have a major mold problem...Think how a cork wine stopper soaks up the wine and expands to seal the bottle....Anyway, there are several products like William suggests that should provide you some relief.....
    • Nats Nats on Oct 17, 2016
      THANK YOU to everybody who has given me some very good pointers. I agree that we have to locate the problem, fix that and then move on to the next level . It is the mountain side that has all the problem. I also believe cork is not a solution, instead it will only create more trouble but I had to let you hear what I was told... and I thank you again for confirming my my concerns on this material being used as a barrier.
  • Kim Humber Kim Humber on Oct 12, 2016
    Greece banned lead based interior paint in 1922 but I would not suggest sanding unless you actually test for lead first. Using a citrus-based stripper on the concrete might work, followed by a primer made specifically for whatever water-proofing paint you can find in the EU. Look for areas where the water actually streams in as these areas will need to be sealed with hydraulic cement BEFORE you use the waterproofing paint on the interior concrete wall. You may have to dig down on the outside of the foundation where possible to seal any cracks with hydraulic cement. If your wall actually is the mountain itself that is not going to work though. For the rising damp, by which I think you mean water coming up through the wall from the basement, the treatment very much depends on what the wall is made of. If a cement based stucco, you can use the same waterproofing paint. However, if you have plaster, over a wood framed wall or a even newer drywall, then there is a much bigger issue. If there is actual mold, I suggest you try a product called Concrobium, which I believe you can get in the EU. If the mold is coming from inside the wall that may require a professional. A dehumidifier might help as well. Definitely agree with Charles, do not use cork.
    • Nats Nats on Oct 17, 2016
      THANK YOU to everybody who has given me some very good pointers. I agree that we have to locate the problem, fix that and then move on to the next level . It is the mountain side that has all the problem. I also believe cork is not a solution, instead it will only create more trouble but I had to let you hear what I was told... and I thank you again for confirming my my concerns on this material being used as a barrier.
  • Nats Nats on Oct 17, 2016
    THANK YOU to everybody who has given me some very good pointers. I agree that we have to locate the problem, fix that and then move on to the next level . It is the mountain side that has all the problem. I also believe cork is not a solution, instead it will only create more trouble but I had to let you hear what I was told... and I thank you again for confirming my my concerns on this material being used as a barrier.