Why is this plaster peeling?

[H F]

Can someone please provide some insights as to why this plaster may be peeling? It's the only place in the house that this has happened. The paint has literary crumbled away, exposing the plaster below. We're going to be paining portions of the house again, but wanted to know what we need to address this so that it doesn't happen again.

[ProDave]

Damp / condensation would be my guess.

 

How old is the house, what construction?

[dpmiller]

looks like a repair done when the windows were replaced? I'd wonder if it had been over-polished, or if some of the silicone sealant had got onto it.

[Russell griffiths]

Damp penetrating from the outside via the reveal, probably a solid wall. 

[Carrerahill]

50 minutes ago, Home Farm said:

Can someone please provide some insights as to why this plaster may be peeling? It's the only place in the house that this has happened. The paint has literary crumbled away, exposing the plaster below. We're going to be paining portions of the house again, but wanted to know what we need to address this so that it doesn't happen again.

Damp.

 

To solve first see if you have a water ingress issue or condensation. It is going to need to be fixed so I would probably hack the plaster off to the brick or if PB I would remove that and the story will probably go on. If this sounds like a bad plan and too much work then try and solve the damp issue through assumption - then once dry as a bone re-skim with thistle jointing compound as that will go on smoothly even for a novice plasterer.

 

I would do a little more digging then come back here with a report and the solution will be forthcoming.

 

 

[H F]

That dreaded word again. There's no real reason for damp to be present there, so it's a head scratcher... hesitant to rip off the PB at this stage, but will have a look outside to see if there's any reason for the damp, and will report back.

[Declan52]

It's just a cold spot on that part of the wall. Damp will then form here from condensation and the paint will start to peel.

If you have access to a thermal camera then you could see if there are gaps behind the plasterboard letting cold in without having to remove anything.

Zinsser do a paint that will cover the patch but then your only covering the issue and it will return in a few years. 

[Russell griffiths]

It’s because you have a cold bridge between outside and inside 

window reveals are notorious for this as the actual cross section between cold and watrm is so thin. 

[Ed Davies]

43 minutes ago, Declan52 said:

If you have access to a thermal camera…

 

Failing that, an IR thermometer can be very informative with a bit of patience. Not the ideal time of year to use either, of course, as you want a nice contrast between indoor and outdoor temperatures to see things clearly.

[Onoff]

Had a similar, cold reveal here. Ours was just painted render not plaster. Though I can't do anything about the window all the draughts have stopped. No condensation on the reveal either.

 

 

[nod]

I used to run a damp proofing company Back in the 80s when every survey identified rising damp

or penetrating damp 90% where neither Most where poor ventilation causing condensation 

[Ferdinand]

1 hour ago, Home Farm said:

That dreaded word again. There's no real reason for damp to be present there, so it's a head scratcher... hesitant to rip off the PB at this stage, but will have a look outside to see if there's any reason for the damp, and will report back.

 

In older houses there are always umpteen reasons for damp to be present everywhere ! A few thoughts:

 

Did you happen to have a Structural Survey when you moved in? That would be helpful, as would getting an IR Camera and Damp Meter and min/max Humidity meter - just to get to know your property.
 

1 - Has it a damp proof course?

2 - When it was renovated, how did they handle moisture and ventilation? Are the approaches to teh two compatible?

3 - What is the outside ground level?

4 - Have any materials been used which contribute to potential damp - eg cement render or pointing?

 

Ferdinand

[Carrerahill]

1 hour ago, Home Farm said:

That dreaded word again. There's no real reason for damp to be present there, so it's a head scratcher... hesitant to rip off the PB at this stage, but will have a look outside to see if there's any reason for the damp, and will report back.

Well the cavity is probably open behind this part, the surface is then cold, so it's a perfect spot for damp and quite common. 

[Brickie]

Reveal looks quite deep for a solid wall-good chance it’s cavity. 

Is this a room where you dry a lot of washing,by any chance?

Any other potential sources of moisture I the air internally?