Building query...

[Wazzzer]

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?

[scarr89]

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...

[Luke1981]

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! 

I take it the smoke is coming through your extractor fan?

[Wazzzer]

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

[Danny171]

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??

[Ant1981]

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.

[tweed]

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.

[Kerrse]

I agree it's your problem they are doing nothing wrong, i would also suggest using a sealant gun.

[Danny171]

But don't seal any air vents up, they are there for a reason

[rob.043]

As said, have a look for air vents in the wall that is within the 'sh!tty shed'. Means going into the smoking shed  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.