5 Ways That Damp Can Damage your London Home

London sits on a bed of clay, which is called the Thames Valley Basin and with a mainly wet climate that we experience here in the UK, damp is a real threat to buildings. In this short blog, we take a look at some of the common ways that moisture can cause damage to your home.

1. Missing roof tiles – Gale force winds can actually lift clay roof tiles and all it takes is a few missing or dislodged tiles to allow rainwater into the roof structure and if that goes unnoticed, it could cause a lot of damage to the joists and rafters. When we do an independent damp survey, we inspect the roof and the loft, looking for any signs of damp, mould and woodworm.
2. Rotten window and door frames – Years ago, houses were built with softwood window and door frames and over time, they degrade and timber decay sets in, which allows damp to penetrate the exterior walls and damage the interior plaster. You might notice a musky smell in the house, which is caused by mouldy wood and this is a sign that you need an independent damp survey from London Damp Specialists.
3. Rising damp – If the damp proof course is damaged in any way, moisture can creep up the exterior walls and that will eventually penetrate into the building causing damage to plaster. Tell tale signs include moss growth on exterior walls and peeling wallpaper; a chemical DPC can be injected into cavity walls, which acts as a moisture barrier. If you think your home might have a rising damp problem, book an independent damp survey and our damp expert will provide you with an accurate assessment and recommend the best treatment.
4. Mould formation – Damp and humid conditions allow mould to thrive, which is definitely a health hazard. Mould can be green, black, brown of a creamy white and the black variety is the really dangerous one and can cause serious respiratory illness with prolonged exposure. Mould causes a stale, musky smell in the house and if you see any signs of mould, call us and book an independent damp survey and we will provide you with an accurate report the following day.
5. Woodworm – Damp and humid conditions are ideal for woodworm; there are two types of wood consuming beetle that resides in the UK and they burrow small holes into wood to lay their eggs. When the larvae hatch, they consume wood pulp and unless measures are taken, the cycle continues. Once woodworm have been diagnosed, you need a woodworm expert to apply a chemical treatment that eradicates the eggs, the larvae and the adult beetles.

It is paramount that you arrange for an independent damp survey from a leading London damp survey company, as this is the only way to be 100% certain that your London home is damp and mould free. If you are planning to buy a London property, it makes total sense to survey the property for signs of damp, mould and timber rot.