Four causes of damp problems and how to resolve them

When you’re buying a new home, the last thing you want to see is damp. It’s a common problem but is usually easy to fix. Left unchecked, it can prove hazardous to your health, your clothes and furniture and your bank balance.

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There are four common causes of damp, and knowing how to spot them makes it easier to resolve the problem and create a damp-free home.

Rising damp

If you notice peeling wallpaper, powdery plaster and mould on walls to about 1 metre of height, you’re dealing with rising damp. This only affects rooms on the ground floor of a property and is usually caused by the absence of a damp proof course or DPC.

If a DPC is present, you’ll notice a black line in the outside wall about 3 bricks above the ground. If the ground level is higher than the DPC then removing any earth may solve the problem. Otherwise you may need a DPC installed or other remedial work to get rid of the damp.

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Condensation

Modern homes often lack good ventilation and can’t get rid of the humidity left behind after cooking or taking a bath. This can result in the growth of mould on walls, clothes and furnishings and a musty smell.

This form of condensation damp is easy to fix with the use of extractor fans, cooker hoods and even something as simple as a moisture trap in a wardrobe or behind larger pieces of furniture.

Leaking water pipes

If you notice mould in strange places such as around the toilet, the problem may be a leaking pipe.

Problems like this can often be spotted by investing in the kind of homebuyers report Berkshire property buyers can rely on, performed by a professional company. A homebuyers report could save you a small fortune in the long run by identifying damp in a property you’re interested in.

Penetrating damp

Damp in upper rooms and mould around window frames is usually caused by faulty guttering or cracks in brickwork and render. Your surveyor will also look out for problems with the roof and gaps around window frames.The is also the issue of the problem with drains not being properly sealed. This is where a Drain Lining Company like https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/ can come in handy  as they are specialsits in this area.

If the property does have penetrating damp then any repairs will need to be done as soon as possible and cavity wall insulation checked for damp so the problem doesn’t persist.