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My understanding is that we had a penetrating damp problem in that area of the wall prior to the renovation - when we removed the tongue and groove as part of the renovation the wall just fell away right back to the brick. Presumably the external brick work in that area had failed pointing and as a result the wall became saturated. But this was hidden under tongue and groove for 20 years. That area (we're talking about approx 2.5m x 1.5m) had cement hard coat applied owing to it being stripped back to brick then top coat plaster. The other areas just had a plaster top coat applied to whatever was already there. So that area has more to contend with for sure when it comes to drying out - we have an area with potentially saturated bricks, then hard coat, then top coat. The condensation in the room is a secondary problem that is adding to the issues but not the cause of the problem. In that the condensation in the room is going to the problem area of the wall because it's cold. And as such the wall might be trying to dry out now we've had the pointing fixed, but the condensation is keeping it in a constant state of damp. Hence why the damp specialist said to manage the condensation and it will eventually dry out. I'm just wondering after being done for 8 months, and 2 months of managing the internal condensation environment, that we should call the job as well and truly jiggered and start again.

This may say more about my overall approach to home decor than I would normally be willing to admit to... but couldn't you just bodge it? A combo of sliced up bit of replacement foam type coving, polyfilla applied in numerous thin layers, sanding and painting would surely cover this up? It looks very noticeable now because it's a gaping hole but filled and painted - along with rest of coving, would go a long way to disguising it. Unless visitors spend ages gazing at hallway ceilings I doubt anyone else would notice! Good luck.

Batit (with a 't') - their site is Batitprotect.be. no we did not a separate builder, they did all the plaster work. We got a decorator later to repaint (treatment usually needs several months after for walls to dry out). Have not attacked the kitchen yet, but luckily is upstairs. Next year's project!