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General => General discussion => Topic started by: Wazzzer on 24 November 2012, 22:10
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Short version of the story...
Next door have a sh!tty lean to/shed built against our kitchen extension. Both were there before we moved in. The problem we're having only arose when the girls moved in and started using it as a smoking room.
We're getting a stale smoke smell coming into the kitchen about 5 mins after they've had a smoke. It seems really starting to piss me off as it gets worse when they have more friends round and it just generally stinks.
They have suggested I should check my walls for holes etc but I'm thinking why the hell should I be doing that when it'snot me causing the problem.
Any advice?
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Hmmm...Interesting. Bricks aren't too porous!
If it is attached to your house (what we talking here, semi/detached/terrace?) then you could probably make them remove it...
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If it'd a sh!tty little shed then its not classed as a permanent structure so it does not need planning permission etc. I would just wait till they are all out and smash the thing down if all communication fails! :evil:
I take it the smoke is coming through your extractor fan?
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Nope just coming through the walls as far as I can tell. I'm questioning whether you can just build something up against your neighbours wall? Wondering if there's any damage to the bricks and/or pointing that's letting it through.
It's a terrace with a kitchen extension making ours longer. I'll draw a picture in the morning, will make it a bit clearer
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Hot gases will rise from cigarettes, as the gas cools, it is heavier than the air so will gradually fall down to ground level.
Could it be that the cold/stale smoke is seeping in through your house air vents, just above the damp course??
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Hot gases will rise from cigarettes, as the gas cools, it is heavier than the air so will gradually fall down to ground level.
Could it be that the cold/stale smoke is seeping in through your house air vents, just above the damp course??
This.
Defo worth having a good ole look around for air bricks, cavity vents etc.
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It's your problem.
I do air sealing as part as my job. I could proberly tell you where it's coming in if I looked but doubt that will happen. Maybe upload a picture?
Get a sealant gun and some intubratt.
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I agree it's your problem they are doing nothing wrong, i would also suggest using a sealant gun.
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But don't seal any air vents up, they are there for a reason
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As said, have a look for air vents in the wall that is within the 'sh!tty shed'. Means going into the smoking shed :sick: Covering these should make a big difference to the smell, but wont be particularly detrimental to the ventilation of the cavity, as its already had a shed built round it...
Were presuming this is a cavity brick wall, plastered internally? Is it rendered externally, or painted? If not rendered or painted within the shed, a layer of paint to the wall in the shed may help reduce its permeability.
Also, while in the shed, see how the roof is fixed to the wall, is there a timber batten screwed to the wall perhaps? There may be unused or oversized holes for fixings that could be a problem.
Whats the arrangement with your kitchen windows? Could some of the smoke be coming in there?
Pics may help, especially if Tweed can cast an expert eye over them.
You could give your local planning authority a ring, and discuss the problem with them, but I very much doubt there is any non-compliance to persue.
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It will depend if it is a party wall or a wall soley on your property.
If a party wall then little you can do about it. But I would be very surprised if its actually coming through the wall. If its a party wall it will either be a cavity wall or a solid 9 inch brick wall.
Also if you have a solid floor you wont have any air bricks. Air bricks are only used to vent a timber underfloor.
If this a wall built entirely on your property and I am assuming you are the property owner, then you can make them remove any structure attached to said wall.
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Cheers for the advice so far people. Will get some pics this evening so you can have look. It's solely my wall as it's just our extension, then the shed has built against our wall. I'll have a look in case a brick vent has been put in although I don't reckon it has. I'll have a look at the way the roof has been attached. Paint is an idea I've had before as I don't even mind paying for it and doing it myself just to stop the nasty smell
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When was this extension built? If its in the last 40 odd years it will have had to have been a cavity wall, so I cannot understand how you are getting this smell coming through!
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I'm 99% sure it's coming in the roof on that side.
Get some outside pics and inside
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It definitely has a cavity wall as we had a hole on our side behind the cupboards which has now been filled. It's baffling me too as the smell shouldn't penetrate the bricks... Like Tweed says their roof fixings are the only likely reason
I did the flat roof not long ago so I could have had a proper look down the cavity etc but I wasn't aware of this problem as the previous occupants didn't smoke in the shed lol
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You chase your bricks out and put your felt in the chase then point it back up?
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I bet you got a white fascia and a 1" gap away from the brick. Air/smoke will go up and in!
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Depends if its a cold or warm roof.
Cold roofs have the roof space (between the roof joists) vented so yes that maybe where it comes in
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If it was built for a kitchen I should imagine it is vented. If that's the case. Seal it up on that wall. As I originally said get some intubatt and sealant.
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Take up smoking yourself.
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I bet you got a white fascia and a 1" gap away from the brick. Air/smoke will go up and in!
You assume correctly lol... It was all wooden fascia before
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I bet you got a white fascia and a 1" gap away from the brick. Air/smoke will go up and in!
You assume correctly lol... It was all wooden fascia before
Easy fix then mate. You need to seal that gap :wink: just that wall though
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I bet you got a white fascia and a 1" gap away from the brick. Air/smoke will go up and in!
You assume correctly lol... It was all wooden fascia before
Easy fix then mate. You need to seal that gap :wink: just that wall though
But isn't that to provide ventilation to the roof? If sealed, he might end up with a condensation/damp issue.
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I bet you got a white fascia and a 1" gap away from the brick. Air/smoke will go up and in!
You assume correctly lol... It was all wooden fascia before
Easy fix then mate. You need to seal that gap :wink: just that wall though
But isn't that to provide ventilation to the roof? If sealed, he might end up with a condensation/damp issue.
Still got another two walls for that. Oh and a house :wink:
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I bet you got a white fascia and a 1" gap away from the brick. Air/smoke will go up and in!
You assume correctly lol... It was all wooden fascia before
Easy fix then mate. You need to seal that gap :wink: just that wall though
But isn't that to provide ventilation to the roof? If sealed, he might end up with a condensation/damp issue.
Still got another two walls for that. Oh and a house :wink:
The house part doesn't make sense as that's not what it's for.
Are you sure the other two walls can provide enough ventilation to prevent damp?
With due respect, perhaps OP could draw a layout before taking advice to do what you suggested.
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It depends which way the roof joists go.
Those vents are designed to provide ventilation of the roof space, closing them WILL cause problems!
You can do as tweed says but when you get dry rot and woodworm then maybe you will wish you hadnt taken his advice!
Make them take down the structure!
Write a simple, polite letter first and no need to mention the smoking just say that it is compromising the structural integrity of your property and should not be attached.
Then if they dont respond go to a Solicitor, but write to them again first advising them that they will be liable for his costs.