Damp Doctor - Top tips for dealing with damp
April 9, 2009
Do you have peeling paintwork on external walls? Don't delay in damp proofing and controlling damp patches. Common causes of damp include missing or blocked guttering and drainpipes, missing or loose flashing, and missing or loose roof tiles.
Flat roofs can also lead to leaks and damp because they're only watertight if properly sealed. If you think your home has any of these problems, don't delay in damp proofing and controlling them if you feel confident to do so, or call in a PCA qualified professional within your area.
If you have damp, it may be that your home's damp proof course - assuming it has one - is being prevented from doing its job properly. You should be able to see the line of the damp proof course along the exterior brickwork of your home, several inches up from the ground. If the level of your garden, patio or path is higher than the damp proof course, it won't work properly so do something about it.
Another potential cause of damp is the exterior fabric of your home. Common property problems include deteriorated pointing, deteriorated or cracked rendering, and bricks that have become porous. Again, you can fix these things yourself, or get a builder in if you're not confident you can deal with them properly.
You can get liquid sealants to apply to the exterior of your home to stop the brickwork being porous, but only use them when the bricks are dry. Afterwards, your home should retain more heat because the bricks are no longer damp.
You can also get liquids to seal interior walls against damp and cold, but these should only be used if you've addressed the cause of the problem and only on walls that are above ground level.
Ensure that you strip the walls of any wallpaper or flaking paint and clean them thoroughly first, then paint the liquid on, following the manufacturer's instructions.
If however, your still having problems or you just want to talk to someone regarding your problem, contact Wise Property Care on 0800 65 22 678 of click to find your local branch and speak to your local branch. Alternatively, fill out our Contact Form and we'll arrange for one of our local specialists to call or visit you at a convenient time.