Taking Action on Fixing Damp

Damp is a widespread problem in properties across the UK; however, this doesn’t stop the fact that it’s a serious issue which requires a rapid response. Whether it’s rising or penetrating damp, these issues will not amend themselves and will only worsen with time. In fact, leaving damp complications to fester not only leads to unsightly mould patches taking hold but it can actually damage a property’s structural integrity. As a result, lingering damp problems raise serious health and safety concerns for those residing in damp properties. It’s for this reason that taking action on fixing damp should be addressed with urgency.

The Importance of a Professional Damp Specialist

When you first identify the need for damp treatment, it probably rings alarm bells in your head about how much fixing damp walls costs. It’s due to this that a lot of property owners attempt to save some money by attempting damp fixing themselves. Unfortunately, fixing rising damp or penetrating damp in a homemade capacity tends to have the opposite effect. This is because homemade methods for fixing damp can either be completely ineffectual or can actually cause more harm to the property. What’s more, allowing damp complications to fester without professional treatment leverages the damp to cause problems. Therefore, if you attempt to save yourself some money by “fixing” damp problems yourself, this is likely to end up costing you more in remedial expenses in the long run.

It's for this reason that contacting a professional damp specialist should be your first port of call. This way, you can rest assured that your damp problems are amended and prevented from happening in the future. As a result, the cost of a professional damp specialist is a worthy investment when it comes to the current and future protection of your property.

How to Fix Damp Walls

The method employed to fix damp walls will change depending on what type of damp is affecting your property. Firstly, if dealing with rising damp, it’s likely that a DPC has been bridged, and some or possibly all the following actions are required to fix the problem:

• The removal of bridging materials or soil to ensure a minimum 150mm clearance below the DPC, dependent on internal construction/floor levels.
• The existing slate or bitumen damp proof course has broken down & is allowing moisture to pass through.
• The property was not built with a damp-proof course.
• The replacement of rotten internal flooring or joists in contact with the damp.
• The removal and replacement of salt-contaminated and/or damaged internal plastering.

Alternatively, when dealing with penetrating damp, it’s essential that the source of water ingress/moisture is established and rectified. Typically speaking, the cause of penetrating damp is down to property issues, with the following five points generally being affected by water ingress:

• Defective guttering/roof line leaks
• Cracks in render
• Porous brickwork &/or defective pointing
• Defective windows & doors

As a result, the first port of call for fixing penetrating damp issues is to identify and rectify any of the above problems before considering any other damp proofing remediation

How to Fix Damp in the Corner of a Room

Fixing damp in the corner of a room isn’t all that different from fixing damp on walls. Regardless of where the damp is situated, the root cause needs to be identified and rectified, whether it be a breach in the damp proof course or a condensation issue

The Cost of Fixing Rising Damp in the UK

Unfortunately, fixing rising damp isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, meaning we’re unable to give you a rough idea of what the costs would be. In order to get a better understanding of the costs of amending rising damp, we would encourage you contact us or to book a survey with us. This will give us a better understanding of your property and its requirements, allowing us to weigh up the expenses that would be involved if any at all.

The Cost of Fixing Penetrating Damp in the UK

Much like the cost of fixing rising damp, the cost of fixing penetrating damp isn’t necessarily straightforward. This is because penetrating damp can present itself in many forms, meaning a different level of treatment will be required for every case. Therefore, we’d once again encourage you to book a survey with us if you’re looking to gain a better understanding of the costs that would be involved in fixing and proofing your property for the future.