How to Deal with Damp in Your Home

Dealing with Damp in Your Home

Damp in your home can cause structural issues with brick and stonework and can also cause mould and condensation on the internal walls, which can then cause health issues.

Moisture travels from the source through the walls through capillary action. Essentially, it travels through the gaps and tiny tubes in bricks or masonry.

Porous building materials, such as plasterboard and skirting boards, can absorb this water. Not only does this form visible damp patches on internal walls, but it can also cause damage such as rot and decay.

You may first notice damp in your home from the stained wall, peeling wallpaper, flaking paint, or the wall feeling damp. Mortar or plaster could even start to crumble.

Any wallpaper has to be removed (a wallpaper steamer can make this easier), and then the required plaster section must be removed, too. A breaker can do this. Doing this yourself could result in a lower work quote and quicker work times.

If rising damp is the issue, it can be misdiagnosed, so you should get a professional damp assessor to assess the situation. Then, a professional rising damp treatment specialist can hopefully fix the issue.

Once completed, all you have left is to decorate again. A high-quality damp-proof base and mould-resistant paint or anti-condensation paint would be beneficial. Several thin layers of paint are better than thick layers to increase breathability; hire a paint sprayer to make this easier and quicker.

 

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When carrying out any decorating or building work, you need to wear PPE. Eye protection, a dust mask, and work gloves are always needed to protect you from any fumes or dust. You should also wear suitable work boots and clothing.

 

What causes damp?

Rising damp is often sourced from ground level water drainage issues such as water pooling around patios, and ordinary damp commonly from issues with pipework and guttering.

Rising damp is worsened by the absence of a DPC, or Damp-Proof Course. This barrier is installed at a low wall level to stop water from rising. It is made from a water-resistant, non-absorbent material.

The DPC can become less effective or suffer from a construction fault over time. In older properties, it might not be present at all. If you detect damp travelling up your wall, nothing can stop it.

Rising damp can be misdiagnosed, so it is essential to get a professional's opinion. This is the only way you can resolve the exact issue.

 

How to treat damp

If left untreated, damp can cause structural issues. So, you need to damp-proof your home.

You need to bring the walls back to the brickwork. A professional can do this as part of the process, but it could save you some money (and time) if done yourself. You can hire wallpaper strippers and breakers from Speedy Hire but do ensure you know what you're doing before removing plaster.

If rising damp is your issue, you should call a professional damp treatment specialist to treat it once it is confirmed this is the actual issue. They will be able to inject the brickwork with a damp-proof injection cream.

A professional will be either a Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments (CSRT), who is a surveyor in the remedial property industry, or a Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing, who can diagnose issues and recommend improvements.

A water-repellent barrier is formed as it cures, which should stop future issues. Walls could still suffer from problems with condensation in the future, so it is really important to finish off the wall properly.

 

How to decorate after issues with damp

Once the damp course has been completed, you will need to try to get your home back to normal.

This will first involve replastering any walls required. You may wish to completely remove any existing plaster and start afresh, but if not, the plasterer will have to plaster to a precise specification to prevent any further salt contamination. Salt is likely to still exist in any plaster left behind.

With fresh plaster, you need to follow the appropriate methods before painting, which includes giving the walls a mist coat. Try to ensure the walls can still breathe, so don't block off airflow to walls with furniture, even if the damp has been sorted.

• How to paint fresh plaster

 

Damp proofing in period properties

Most houses suffering from issues with damp will be older homes. Early Victorian homes (1837-1970) have solid walls, which can cause condensation issues, and rendering can easily fail, allowing the weather to penetrate.

Later Victorian properties (1870-1901) usually have air bricks and cavity walls, but these can become blocked over time and the air gaps in the cavity walls can become bridged with decaying parts of the walls and plaster.

Edwardian homes (1901-1915) usually had a form of damp proof course. However, due to the property's age, this can naturally fail over time.

Often, condensation and poor ventilation cause the rising damp in older homes. Other issues may have been caused by:

• Pebbledash
• Injecting damp-proof courses incorrectly
• Blocking ventilation with furniture or plasterboard
• Raising the outdoor flooring level so damp penetrates
• Painting a house so it can't breathe

 

What to do:

• Assess whether external ground levels need to be lowered, such as driveways or patios, have been raised over the years
• Keep ventilation flowing. Open windows, hire professional standard dehumidifiers and extractor fans regularly and install additional air bricks if needed
• Use lime plaster and mortar rather than ordinary cement when renovating
• Contact a professional to install a damp proof course and remedy any incorrect DPCs

 

READY TO HIRE?

Speedy has everything you need for a home renovation, from gardening and decorating to equipment to help banish damp and dust.

You'll find all the power tools and hire equipment you need online. Why not start planning your next DIY project and open a Speedy account online or on the app for all your tool hire needs?

Speedy has more than 200 local service centres nationwide, and 4-hour delivery. It has never been easier to hire the tools and equipment you need.