Damp walls can have lots of causes. For the presence of damp in and on walls and we recommend a full assessment of potential causes before calling in our company to cure the problem. Often you can save a considerable amount of money by following the checklist below to try and determine the cause of the damp:

Rising Damp

1. If the damp is less than one metre from the ground the odds are it could be rising damp. Check externally that the damp proof course has not been bridged by a raised path or drive.

2. When it rains does the water run away from the house wall or is the ground uneven and encouraging water to run towards the house ?

3. Is there any broken/missing pointing on a brick DPC ?

4. Are there any blocked drains that cause water to overflow towards the wall ?

Penetrating Damp

1. Are the roof tiles/slates in good repair and firmly fixed?

2. Are the gutters clear of leaf and mould debris to prevent them overflowing and soaking the wall ?

3. Are there any leaks or cracks in downpipes or guttering ?

4. Are there any faulty window seals that admit water in strong rain ?

5. Are any flat roofs or chimney-roof joints effectively sealed and waterproof ?

Condensation ( mould ) Damp

1. Is there enough ventilation in the room to move air around ?

2. Are windows opened regularly and doors opened ?

3. Have any air bricks been removed or blocked in ?

4. Is there sufficient heating in the room ?

5. Is the room left unoccupied for long periods ?

IF THESE BASIC CHECKS DO NOT HIGHLIGHT THE CAUSE THEN CALL US ON 01908 516366 and we will discuss possible remedies with you.

Examples of damp: