Penetrating damp must be treated as soon as it’s spotted to prevent costly property damage and the spread of health-damaging moulds. Ignoring signs of penetrating damp can lead to severe penetrating damp problems that may compromise the integrity of your property.
There is a wide range of structural defects which can result in penetrating damp, as we have in our “What Causes Penetrating Damp” article.
This means that the most important part of treating penetrating damp is a thorough and accurate survey from professional damp experts. Otherwise, you may pay for damp works that have nothing to do with the penetrating damp issue affecting your property.
Step One: Survey the Interior and Exterior
First, we inspect any visible damp patches and ask questions about when the damp occurs, whether it’s worse during certain weather, such as wind-driven rain, and how long it’s been an issue.
We then carry out a thorough examination of the exterior of the building to identify penetrating damp by finding all current and potential points of water ingress, such as cracks in the external walls, outer walls, missing tiles, or blocked gutters.
If there are no external causes, we turn our attention to the plumbing and appliances, as internal leaks can contribute to penetrating damp spread. In attached buildings or flats, we may have to contact your neighbours so that we can survey their property as well. Solid wall construction and cavity wall insulation can also play a role in trapping moisture, so these elements are inspected closely.
Step Two: Seal Up the Point of Water Ingress
Treating penetrating damp ranges from quick and easy to time-consuming and highly invasive, depending on the cause.
The best-case scenario might be that we pull some leaves out of a gutter, reseal a window, or install some chimney cowls. But in cases of severe penetrating damp problems, we may have to strip back walls to find leaking pipes, repoint the entire exterior, or replace rotting timbers.
Regardless of the severity, our goal is to stop penetrating damp and ensure your property is protected for the long term. The Environ team is skilled in every trade required to get a building 100% free from penetrating damp, with a 15 to 25-year guarantee for all damp works.
Step Three: Replace and Repair Damaged Materials
No matter the cause, any materials affected by the damp should be removed, which typically involves stripping back damp paint and plaster all the way down to the brickwork and leaving it to dry.
In more severe cases where timbers have rotted, we may need to brace the building to provide extra support while the rotten timbers are removed.
Finally, we apply a special three-part render from Sovereign, a world-class supplier of damp proofing solutions. We’ll then provide you with a guarantee for all work completed.
No matter the cause, any materials affected by the damp should be removed, which typically involves stripping back damp paint and plaster on interior walls and internal walls all the way down to the brickwork and leaving it to dry. In more severe cases where timbers have rotted, we may need to brace the building to provide extra support while the rotten timbers are removed.
Finally, we apply a special three-part render from Sovereign, a world-class supplier of penetrating damp treatment solutions. We’ll then provide you with a guarantee for all work completed. Damp proof course installations may also be considered where necessary, especially in areas prone to rising damp.
Never Paint Over Damp, Even If the Paint is “Damp Proof”
You should never paint over or re-plaster damp walls without addressing the cause. This is a temporary solution at best, and at worst, it can lead to severe structural issues as walls, floors and roofs rot away in secret.
We’ve treated properties where damp was patched over for years, spreading the damp further and further until the entire wall is saturated. Sometimes, the entire structure is beyond saving and has to be condemned.
Painting over damp also won’t hide it from surveyors equipped with moisture metres if you ever want to sell your property. So, to prevent penetrating damp, it’s crucial to address the root cause with professional penetrating damp treatments.
For more information on how to treat penetrating damp and protect your property from penetrating damp problems, contact us today.
