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Damp Proofing for Period Properties
From Victorian terraced streets to grand Georgian townhouses, period properties are what give London its character and charm. But if we don’t look after them, they can become damaged by damp, mould and rot – sometimes beyond repair.
Our team of damp experts are skilled in assessing and treating all forms of damp, including the major structural causes of damp that often affect period properties, such as a failed damp proof course or penetrating damp through decayed pointing.
Thanks to our skilled contractors and tradespeople, we’re able to perform all remedial works required to both damp proof a home and repair any damage the damp has caused, from peeling paint and crumbling plaster to rotten timbers and skirting boards.
Call us now or request a call back to learn more about our damp proofing services for period homes.
Our period home damp proofing is built to last
We pride ourselves as being one of the few damp proofing companies in London who always address the cause of structural damp at its source. We never cover areas with paint, plaster or membranes in an attempt to “hide” the damp.
Unfortunately, covering rather than stopping damp is has been common practice for many years in period buildings.
This can be extremely destructive as it diverts water ingress to other parts of the property, leading to long term structural damage which often isn’t discovered until it’s very advanced.
It’s also more difficult to diagnose the cause of damp in period homes that have been subject to superficial damp works, as the source of the damp can be far away from where the visible signs have sprung up.
Ensuring a period property is truly water tight throughout its fabric should be the main priority of any credible damp proofing company.
Top-to-bottom damp proofing for period homes
When damp proofing period properties, we often have to address decades of shoddy workmanship and alterations on top of problems with the original structure.
It’s more common for period homes to have been subjected to a patchwork of short-term fixes rather than a complete, top-to-bottom restoration.
Because these works weren’t carried out by the same teams, or even in the same century, a fix in one part of the building can be responsible for causing a problem somewhere else. Then this problem is fixed, causing a problem elsewhere, and so on.
For example, many period homes have been victims of heavy handed insulation works which reduced the “breathability” of the brick walls. These homes were warmer, at the cost of moisture building up inside, leading to condensation, damp and mould.
Our approach to damp works is to address the building as a whole, ensuring that all sources of water ingress and moisture build up are resolved at once. Only then should the internal remedial works be carried out.
There’s no point plastering a wall or replacing skirting boards if an unaddressed source of damp makes it all crumble off a few years later.
Why we use original building techniques and materials in period damp proofing
Period buildings move throughout their lives, expanding and contracting with the seasons and settling over time. The materials used need to take this into account, otherwise they can damage the building.
A common example is using mortar that is harder than the bricks that they sit between. If the mortar is not soft, the bricks won’t be able to move and the pressure will cause them to crack and shatter, providing further opportunities for water ingress.
The downside of traditional building materials is that they’re more subject to decay and erosion. Regular maintenance is important to check the health of a period building, which we recommend be performed every 6-7 years.
If your home is in a Conservation Area or is a listed building, carrying out works which alter the original structure or appearance of the house may be illegal, so it’s important you work with contractors experienced in traditional building techniques.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a DPC injection last?
A professionally installed chemical damp proof course typically lasts 20 years or more, and is often covered by a long-term guarantee. In period properties, its lifespan also depends on how compatible the surrounding materials are, since incompatible mortar or render can undermine even a correctly installed DPC over time.
How much does it cost to inject a damp proof course?
The cost of a DPC injection depends on the length of wall being treated, wall thickness, and access. Period properties can sometimes cost more due to solid wall construction and the extra care needed to protect original features, so it’s best to get a tailored quote after a survey.
Does injecting walls stop damp?
A chemical DPC injection creates a water repellent barrier that stops rising damp travelling upward through the wall via capillary action. However it only addresses rising damp specifically, so if the property also has penetrating damp or condensation, those causes need to be treated separately for the damp to fully stop.
Can you treat rising damp without removing plaster?
In most period properties, some plaster removal is necessary because old plaster is often contaminated with ground salts that continue drawing in moisture even after a new DPC is installed. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons rising damp treatments fail in older buildings.
Do you have to replaster after damp proofing?
Yes, after installing or repairing a damp proof course in a period property, replastering with a breathable, salt-resistant plaster is usually required. Using the wrong plaster, such as a standard modern gypsum plaster, can trap moisture and cause the problem to reappear.
Does DPC weaken the wall?
No, a correctly installed damp proof course does not weaken the structural integrity of a wall. Problems only occur when the wrong method or incompatible materials are used, which is particularly important to get right in period buildings with solid, traditional wall construction.
Does rising damp come back after treatment?
Rising damp can return if the original cause was misdiagnosed, if the DPC is later bridged by things like raised external ground levels or solid floors, or if incompatible non-breathable materials were used during the repair. This is especially common in period homes that have been through multiple past renovations.
What is the best damp proofing method for a period property?
The best method depends on the property’s construction and the exact cause of damp, but period properties generally respond best to breathable solutions such as chemical DPC injection combined with lime or breathable plaster. Modern non-breathable materials often do more harm than good on older solid wall construction.
What are common damp proofing mistakes in older buildings?
Common mistakes include using non-breathable modern materials on solid period walls, painting or plastering over damp instead of treating its source, mismatched mortar that’s harder than the surrounding brick, and applying a rising damp treatment when the real cause is penetrating damp or condensation. These mistakes often stem from decades of patchwork repairs by different contractors.
What is better than a standard damp proof course for period properties?
For many period properties, a damp proof course combined with breathable repair materials outperforms standalone options like waterproof paints or membranes, which tend to trap moisture rather than let it escape. The right approach depends on identifying the true cause of damp first, rather than defaulting to one fixed method.
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