Book Your Damp Survey Now...
What Are The Benefits Of London Restoration Services For Period Properties?
Period properties possess history and character that no modern building can compete with. It’s, therefore, essential to use London restoration services to preserve such treasures before it is too late.
Restoring these houses can be tricky. Careless restorations can lead to extra costs incurred and the loss of your property’s charming features. To ensure that your period building doesn’t fall victim to a low-quality restoration, you should only work with a reliable restoration specialist.
Here at Environ Property Services, we specialise in the preservation and repair of all period houses, whether they be from the Georgian, Victorian, or Edwardian era.
If you notice signs of old age or damage in your building, we will restore it to perfect condition.
The Different Types Of Damp
There are many kinds of damp occurring for various reasons, but they all have the same effect: mould and property damage.
If you are not sure what kind of damp you have on your property, our London damp specialists will be glad to help you distinguish it and tell you what has caused it.
Penetrating damp
First, there is what we call ‘penetrating damp’, which is also called water ingress. This is water that has entered your building from outside or due to leaks in the plumbing.
When a property’s floor, ceiling, or internal and external walls get penetrated by water, it will be soaked with moisture, leading to severe growth of mould. If the water comes from the ground, it will cause more damage, as it contains hygroscopic salts. This will attract more water and absorb it into the structure of your property.
When this happens, your house will attract wood-boring beetles and other insects, forcing you to replace your timbers entirely.
Penetrating damp will also result in mould growth and may even cause or worsen health issues like asthma. Not only will you need to spend money on property repairs, but you will also need to deal with medical issues.
Treating penetrating damp involves a combination of detective work and craftsmanship. Our damp experts will conduct a thorough survey of your property to identify the cause of the penetrating damp. Once identified, they will use special damp proofing materials to ensure a flawless finish and prevent penetrating damp.
Lateral Damp
Then there’s lateral damp. This is due to groundwater entering your property through cracks in the building, which is why most basements are cold and damp. Houses located in places with high water levels are more susceptible to this kind of problem. Lateral damp is just as damaging, and if untreated, it can harm the structure of your property, weakening the foundation of the entire building. Moisture may also cause electrical shocks if it touches internal wiring, which can be dangerous for you and your family.
To prevent this, your house’s basement should have reliable tanking systems as per existing building regulations. But if you feel like your cellar is too damp, don’t just assume that it is caused by lateral damp. Lateral damp is often confused with rising damp, as they both show similar symptoms. While both should be fixed as soon as possible, there is a specific kind of treatment for each. A London damp specialist will treat the former with tanking solutions, while the latter will be fixed with damp proofing techniques.
It is best to call recommended damp specialists to confirm the type of problem your property is facing so you can address it immediately. At Environ Property Services, we are dedicated to delivering top-quality damp solutions to our clients. We understand the detrimental effects of untreated damp on both our clients’ properties and their well-being. Our objective is to eliminate damp from our clients’ properties promptly and efficiently.
Unsure where moisture is coming from? Request a diagnostic damp survey.
Rising Damp
Rising damp can cause damage to walls, which often becomes visible inside when signs begin to appear on paint, wallpaper, or plastered surfaces. Damp of this kind can potentially cause health problems, including respiratory issues and skin allergies.
When your property falls victim to rising damp, your walls need much more than just new wallpaper or a new coat of paint to solve the problem. It needs immediate treatment to stop further damage and prevent it from coming back again in the future.
Some of the most common visible signs of rising damp are stains and tide marks on your walls. You may also notice wallpaper starting to peel and skirting boards beginning to rot. There may also be a musty smell in and around the area.
Other signs include black mould on the plaster, salts within the plaster, and salts forming on the external bricks. Once any of these signs appear, it’s time to call our London rising damp specialists.
The only effective way to treat rising damp is by repairing or installing a damp proof course (DPC). This can be a challenging task, so it’s important to accurately diagnose the issue before applying any treatment to stop or prevent rising damp.
Condensation damp
Condensation damp occurs when moist air inside your home comes into contact with cold surfaces like windows, walls, or mirrors, forming water droplets. This type of damp is particularly common in winter when the central heating is on, but ventilation is inadequate.
Condensation damp affects ground floor rooms and can cause damp patches on walls and ceilings, which may result in mould growth and a musty smell. Common areas for condensation damp include rooms with cavity wall insulation, window frames, and solid walls without adequate ventilation. If left unchecked, condensation damp can lead to the presence of brown stain and wet patches on your walls and ceilings, damaging paint and wallpaper.
Unsure where moisture is coming from? Request a diagnostic damp survey.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
A woodworm is a wood-eating species of larvae laid by various types of insects, particularly the common furniture beetle. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin burrowing tunnels into the wood, searching for nutrients and creating tunnels so that; eventually, they can fly out of the wood as adults. The term woodworm itself is used to describe the damaging effect of the infestation of these larvae on wood and timber.
Small holes are created throughout timber and wood structures, and, if left untreated, woodworm can cause serious timber damage and can create a long-lasting effect on the framework of a property.
If you notice any of these symptoms, then there is a good chance that you are experiencing woodworm on your property, and it is time to call the professionals at Environ Property Services to solve your problem.
An untreated woodworm infestation can compromise the structural integrity of timbers within a building. The extent of damage woodworms can cause to timber may result in long-term implications for your property’s structural framework.
Damp Surfaces
Your home may be free of structural damp, but moisture in the air can still settle on your home’s surfaces via condensation. You won’t experience any severe structural damage with this kind of damp, but it can cause mould and other allergens to accumulate in your home.
For these kinds of issues, we at Environ Property Services can damp-proof your home by installing a PIV unit. These are low-cost, easily installed pieces of equipment that can ventilate your residence with fresh air, driving out all of the moisture and allergens from your home.
PIV units are far less expensive than alternatives such as MHVR units and full-house air conditioning.
Moreover, we offer the most affordable PIV installation in the country, letting you get rid of the problem for a very low cost.
Signs Of Damp In A House
Several signs tell you your house is suffering from damp. One of the most common indications is a mouldy smell. You will also see mildew appearing on your walls, ceilings, and floors, and they may also feel cold or damp.
Moreover, dark patches may appear on your walls and plaster, which will result in lifting or peeling wallpaper. You may also see excess moisture on your windows. Water droplets may enter your cellar.
To prevent this from happening, you can ask a damp specialist to conduct a basement tanking inspection. If you suspect your house has damp issues, you can confirm it with a London damp inspection and survey from us.
Signs Of Damp In A House
Many things cause dampness in your home. If you find the source of the problem quickly, you can prevent it from worsening.
A damp specialist can provide you with a thorough waterproof tanking assessment and many other services to discover the causes of the damp in your property. Here are some of the major ones:
- Humidity or Air Moisture Condensation
A damp specialist can provide you with a thorough waterproof tanking assessment and many other services to discover the causes of the damp in your property. Here are some of the major ones:
- Rain Penetration
The outer areas of your home are vulnerable to rain penetration, especially if they are poorly maintained. For instance, the junctions in timber roofs may suffer from damp because water damages wear out lead flashings, mortar fillets, hips, or ridges.
- Internal Spillage
This can occur for several reasons, such as leaks from dishwashers and washing machines, burst pipes, deterioration of pipe joints, overflowing showers and baths, and more.
There are many other causes of damp, so be sure to hire a professional damp surveyor to find out what is causing your particular problem. Our company has several positive independent damp survey reviews, so you can feel comfortable placing your trust in us to deal with the complicated issue of damp.
Tips On Dealing With damp Problems
Here are some tips to mitigate the harmful effects of damp
- Regular outdoor maintenance
Since a lot of damp problems come from external factors, conducting regular outdoor maintenance will go a long way. Always inspect your roof for damage, especially after storms. Make sure to clear your gutters of any leaves and other debris, and have any damaged parts replaced as soon as possible. Gutter guards are also a great help in keeping your gutters nice and clean.
- Good home ventilation
Having a well-ventilated home will help clear any moisture from your property. This is especially crucial during colder months when the humidity is much higher. Keep your windows open as often as possible, and inspect your washers and dryers to ensure they are properly vented. Having an extractor fan in your bathroom and kitchen will help expel moisture from the area.
- Proper air circulation
It’s crucial to position your furniture a few centimetres away from walls so that air can circulate. This prevents condensation, and eventually mould, from forming on the surfaces that come into contact with each other.
Regularly checking and maintaining existing damp proof courses can prevent issues before they start. If necessary, installing a new damp proof course or damp proof membrane can address severe damp problems.
These are just a few helpful things you can do to ward off damp from your home. For severe cases, however, the help of a London damp proofing company is vital. When damp starts to damage the structural integrity of your building, only our damp proofing experts will be able to fix it. We also have a team of cellar waterproofing professionals who provide tanking services! Don’t hesitate to contact us. To get a professional damp survey, request your call back today!
Testimonials.
See What Our Client Says About Us
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of damp found in UK homes?
There are five main types of damp. These are rising damp, penetrating damp, lateral damp, condensation damp, and damp surfaces caused by airborne moisture. Each has a different cause and requires a different treatment method, so accurate diagnosis is essential before starting any repair work.
What is the difference between rising damp and penetrating damp?
Rising damp occurs when ground moisture travels upward through walls via capillary action, usually due to a failed or missing damp proof course. Penetrating damp, on the other hand, is caused by water entering the property horizontally through the roof, walls, or plumbing leaks. Rising damp is fixed with a damp proof course, while penetrating damp requires locating and sealing the point of water entry.
How do I know if I have rising damp in my house?
Common signs of rising damp include tide marks or stains on lower walls, peeling wallpaper, crumbling plaster, a musty smell, and salt deposits on brickwork or plaster. If you notice these signs, a professional damp survey can confirm the cause and recommend the right treatment.
What causes lateral damp in basements?
Lateral damp happens when groundwater seeps through cracks in basement or cellar walls, especially in areas with a high water table. It’s often mistaken for rising damp because the symptoms look similar, but lateral damp is treated with basement tanking systems rather than a damp proof course.
What is condensation damp and how is it different from other damp types?
Condensation damp forms when warm, moist indoor air meets cold surfaces like windows or walls, creating water droplets. Unlike rising or penetrating damp, it isn’t caused by external water sources. It’s caused by poor ventilation and is most common in winter. It’s usually fixed with improved airflow, extractor fans, or PIV units rather than structural repairs.
Can damp cause structural damage to a property?
Yes. Untreated damp, particularly rising and penetrating damp, can weaken timber, cause wood boring insect infestations like woodworm, rot skirting boards, and damage plaster and brickwork. Left unaddressed, it can eventually compromise the structural integrity of the building.
Is damp in a house harmful to health?
Yes, prolonged damp exposure can trigger or worsen respiratory conditions like asthma, along with skin allergies, due to mould growth in damp environments. Addressing damp early reduces both property damage and health risks.
How is the type of damp diagnosed in a property?
A professional damp specialist conducts a diagnostic survey using moisture readings, visual inspection, and sometimes moisture mapping to identify the exact type and source of damp. This is important because treating the wrong type of damp, for example applying rising damp treatment to a condensation issue, won’t solve the problem.
What is the best treatment for rising damp?
The most effective and long term solution for rising damp is installing or repairing a damp proof course (DPC), combined with breathable replastering. DIY paint based “damp seal” products only mask the problem and don’t address the underlying moisture source.
How much does a damp survey cost in London?
Damp survey costs vary depending on property size and the complexity of the issue. It’s best to request a quote directly, as pricing depends on whether it’s a standard damp inspection, basement tanking assessment, or pre purchase survey.
Damp Quote. Request Your Callback Today
- London Based
- Informed Advice
- Insurance Backed Guarantee Available
- Friendly Service Team
