Help! Plaster fallen off above skirting either side of wall

[Rich Turner]

Hi all, first post here. Hoping someone can help .
So I've lived in this house 10 years and all of a sudden noticed the plaster was blown either side of the kitchen/living room wall, it wasn't like this before. Tapped it and of course it all then fell off as you can see in the photos.

Any idea what could cause this?
On the cream wall, does the white stuff inside the blown plaster look normal? Or is this some sort of damp/mould?

Thanks in advance, really need to know what's going on.

 

[Peter208]

Does it feel damp / dry dusty

 

[qwas123]

OP,
Its rising damp.

 

[Rich Turner]

Does it feel damp / dry dusty

It's dry all over

 

[Rich Turner]

OP,
Its rising damp.

That was my worry. Though it is dry all all around the area on the walls.

 

[qwas123]

OP,
You have rising damp - do you want to know what to do next?

 

[Rich Turner]

OP,
You have rising damp - do you want to know what to do next?

Yes please. Been trying to think how or what could have caused this, to no avail.

 

[qwas123]

OP,
1. cut the paint sealer with a knife, & remove the skirting boards from both sides of the wall - check them for rot.
2. is either floor solid - if so look for the edge of a DPM flopped up behind the skirtings?
3. is the doorway original or a knock-thro?
4. knock off all plaster back to brickwork on both sides and the reveal - go 300mm beyond any signs of decorated surface damp signs.
5. be aware that any metal corner bead might be rusted and need cutting out.

 

[Bryan ON]

Hi mate,
Need to know if your rising damp is proven.
Can you notice saltpetre/white powdery on your damaged walls? Some irregular tide marks on walls?

 

[HarryL1234]

A damp wall can feel dry - you need to use a moisture meter to determine whether it’s damp. From the appearance of salts leeching in the plaster, it certainly looks like damp. Note that you wouldn’t get mould without damp.