Plastic lining behind plasterboard

[HowlingGale]

Had some water damage caused by neighbour's kitchen sink.
While investigating I had to burst through the plasterboard walls lining our previously dank and dampish basement (now a utility room).

Behind the plasterboard the builders had put a flimsy plastic which is more than likely an attempt to damp proof the plasterboard. There is a proper damp proof layer further down nearer the ground.

I had to break the plastic to see what was going on so it now has big gaping holes.

Does anyone know if I'll need to repair or reinstate the plastic in some way or will I get away with repairing the plasterboard and leaving holes in the plastic?

Or will I just put big vents where I opened the walls up? ?

 

[rulefan]

Is that the party wall or an outside wall?

 

[HowlingGale]

Is that the party wall or an outside wall?

It's on two walls. One is a party wall and one was an original outside wall but it's now in our extension between the kitchen and utility room, if that makes sense.

 

[williamalex1]

Better try and repair it as it's a moisture barrier

 

[rulefan]

You say it is a basement. Is it all below ground level?

What is on the other side of the walls?

 

[HowlingGale]

To be honest I don't think either of the walls are actually below ground. The ground at the front of the house is much higher than at the back. I can't be 100% sure.

One wall backs onto my neighbours basement and the other backs onto my kitchen.

 

[HowlingGale]

Better try and repair it as it's a moisture barrier

If I need to repair it it's probably an insurance job as the walls will need to be stripped back.

 

[williamalex1]

To be honest I don't think either of the walls are actually below ground. The ground at the front of the house is much higher than at the back. I can't be 100% sure.

One wall backs onto my neighbours basement and the other backs onto my kitchen.

All external walls should /must have a vapour barrier or the gyproc/plaster board will just absorb moisture and crumble. I'm sure it's in the building REGS.

 

[williamalex1]

Not sure how it works with slap dab walls, maybe some kind of moisture proof plasterboard. Do you have wooden studs every 2 feet /600mm ?

 

[HowlingGale]

Not sure how it works with slap dab walls, maybe some kind of moisture proof plasterboard. Do you have wooden studs every 2 feet /600mm ?

Not sure if it's 600mm but our builder was a stickler for the regs so I assume he'd have done it right. Think we might need to get a specialist in to fix it as I kind of ripped it to shreds bursting through the walls ?.
It is quite a warm room as it has our boiler and hot water tank and there is no longer external wall in it.

 

[williamalex1]

Just cut the plasterboard back to the nearest stud and install a new barrier stapled over it , then new plasterboard, easy . Internal walls don't need a moisture barrier usually just some kind of insulation.

 

[HowlingGale]

Smashing, just had a look and it is 600mm studs at the very most.
Think I can patch it up ok as it's probably not as shredded as I thought.
Cheers.

 

[williamalex1]

Smashing, just had a look and it is 600mm studs at the very most.
Think I can patch it up ok as it's probably not as shredded as I thought.
Cheers.

Cut plasterboard in the middle of the nearest stud and over lap the plastic barrier..
You can pay me later