Curing damp in walls can be difficult if you’re not an expert. It’s really important to consider the causes of damp and to identify the range of measures required to remedy.

Some damp solutions are simple such as fixing a leaking pipe, checking gutters, downpipes and overflow pipes from boilers and toilets. Often damp may have been happening for a long time and plaster may be damaged or contaminated, timbers rotting and mould forming.

Ensure that the property is well maintained

It is important to ensure that the property is well maintained by periodic maintenance, ensuring windows and doors are properly sealed, gutters are not blocked and that downpipes have not been dislodged or broken.

Missing or broken roof tiles require prompt attention and generally to ensure that when building maintenance is required, it is performed promptly.

Penetrating dampness may take a long time to dry out and often replastering using a cement render will be required as gypsum based plasters are particularly susceptible to damage from water ingress.

Get a new damp proof course

Where dampness is due to the lack of effective damp proof courses, a new damp proof course will be required which forms a barrier to prevent dampness rising from the ground into the walls and masonry. Rising dampness treatment normally requires the walls to be replastered with salt retarding plaster to overcome the effects of hygroscopic salts which are present in the soil and will be drawn into the walls when rising dampness has occurred. Where mould is present such as this example,  improvements to the heating and ventilation are the solution.

Next: How to do Damp Proofing.