How You Can Protect Your London Home From Penetrating Damp

Penetrating damp is moisture that damages a building and it can enter from the roof or the external walls, while moisture that comes from the ground is called rising damp. In this short article, we take a look at ways you can prevent penetrating damp from damaging your London home.

Regular roof inspections

The roof is obviously a critical component that protects a building from the harsh weather and even a small leak can lead to serious damage to the timber rafters and joists inside the roof. Mould can form, not to mention pests such as woodworm and termites; roof and attic inspections can save you a fortune in repair costs. A thorough roof and attic inspection is part of our independent damp survey; we use drones to scan every square inch of the roof and we can capture hi-res images to show the customer. Guttering needs to be closely examined for damage and blockages that can cause rainwater to run down external walls, which usually leads to penetrating damp.

Inspect all timber frames

A close look at all window and door frames, looking for signs of damage and damp; inspect the lines of mastic where the frame joins the brickwork, looking for breaks. Moss growth is a sure sign that damp is present; use a small screwdriver to poke at masonry, brickwork and mortar. If the material crumbles to the touch, you need to contact damp-proofing experts; check the internal walls and ceilings for damp patches and tide marks, which are signs of penetrating damp. Wet and dry rot are common in London properties and there are different solutions for both. When we find timber rot, we recommend a treatment from a trusted damp-proofing company we use in the London area.

Condensation

Droplets of water can form on interior surfaces when there is a high volume of moisture in the air and it is important to mop up condensation before it causes damage. Creating an airflow is an effective way to prevent condensation build-up; when we carry out an independent damp survey on a London property, we do a ventilation flow test to accurately measure air movement.

Injectable chemical foam insulation

Having the wall cavities filled with a chemical foam can have a dramatic effect on condensation, stopping penetrating damp in its tracks. Most damp-proofing contractors offer this service, which is designed to prevent rising and penetrating damp.

Independent damp survey

At London Damp Specialists, we offer 3 levels of independent damp surveys, which are as follows:

• Level 1 – An inspection of external and internal walls, floors and ceilings, looking for signs of damp, mould and timber rot.
• Level 2 – As with level 1, plus a thorough inspection of all timbers.
• Level 3 – Levels 1 & 2, plus use of thermal imagery, drone imagery, humidity tester and borescope cameras.

A full survey report is sent to the customer’s inbox within 24 hours of the survey completion.

If you would like to book an independent damp survey, call London Damp Specialist on 020 7205 4886 or complete the booking form on this website.