Diagnosis before treatment
Damp Proofing
Damp is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The same patch of damp wall can be caused by a roof or gutter fault, penetrating rain, condensation, a plumbing leak or genuine rising damp — and each of those needs a different response. We start by working out what is actually happening, then deal with the cause.
Why the cause matters
It is tempting to treat every damp wall the same way, but injecting a damp-proof course into a wall that is actually suffering from a leaking gutter simply hides the problem while the real cause carries on. That is why we do not promise a particular treatment before we have seen the property.
Where damp is caused by the building fabric — a failed flashing, cracked render, blocked gutter or defective pointing — the fix is often a roofing or masonry repair rather than a "damp" treatment at all. Because we do both, we are not tied to one answer.
The kinds of damp we see
Penetrating damp: water getting in through walls, roofs or around openings. Condensation: moisture from inside the home settling on cold surfaces, often mistaken for something more serious. Rising damp: genuine but less common than it is blamed for. And plumbing or drainage leaks that mimic all of the above.
What we do about it
Once the cause is clear, treatment might mean repairing the source, improving how a wall or room handles moisture, treating affected timber, or installing a damp-proofing solution where that genuinely fits the problem. We explain what we have found and why we are recommending a given approach.
Worth knowing — We will not tell you it is rising damp, or quote for a treatment, before we have assessed the property. Anyone who does should be treated with caution.
Recognise the problem?
Signs it's worth a call
Tide marks on walls
A brown or salty line low down on an internal wall.
Black mould in corners
Often condensation rather than rising damp — the fix is different.
Musty smell
Persistent dampness in a room, cupboard or below a window.
Peeling paint or plaster
Finishes lifting, bubbling or crumbling in one area.
Questions
About damp proofing
Is all damp rising damp?
Will you quote for a damp treatment over the phone?
Get in touch
Got a roof, a wall or a damp problem you want looked at?
Tell us what's happening and send a photo if you can. We'll take a look and get back to you with honest advice.