Preparing Your Home for Winter Damp Issues

London property owners should always be on the lookout for damp and mould, which can attack any property, old or new. The winter is, of course, a season when dampness is more prevalent and in this short blog, we offer a few tips on how to prepare your London home for winter damp issues.

• Ventilation – Every property should be well ventilated, especially during the damp winter months; open windows regularly and keep kitchen and bathroom doors closed when condensation levels are high. If there are rooms that you don’t normally heat, turn on the radiators for a few hours 2-3 times a week, which will remove moisture in the air. Mechanical ventilation can be used with natural ventilation to create an airflow and this will greatly reduce damp and condensation.
• Penetrating damp – We haven’t seen the Sun for months here in the UK, which doesn’t help with damp and moisture and prior to the arrival of winter, you should carry out a thorough inspection of all exterior and interior walls, ceiling and floors. If you prefer, we at London Damp Specialists can carry out penetrating damp solutions that come with a quote for any necessary remedial work. We can match any survey quote and our work had a gold seal guarantee for a full 30 years.
• Condensation – It is perfectly normal for an occupied building to generate condensation, hot water and cooking adds a lot of moisture to the air; ventilation is the key. Open a few windows to create a good airflow, 30 minutes is enough to dry out the air, do this twice a week if possible and this will remove most of the moisture from the interior. If your windows have condensation issues, use a dry cloth to remove the water and do this whenever you see water. If you would prefer a professional approach, we at London Damp Specialists offer complete condensation solutions and we guarantee our work for 30 years.
• Roof inspection – Blocked guttering causes rainwater to cascade down the exterior walls, while missing roof tiles let rain into the roof structure and can damage joists and rafters. You should have your roof inspected by a local roofer; it can be dangerous to climb on a roof, especially if you are not familiar with working at height. This is not something you should overlook, a common source of moisture and damp is the roof, so make sure you ask a local roofing contractor to add you to their list of roof inspections.
• Rising damp – Your property should have a DPC membrane that prevents moisture rising into the building. The course is made from bitumen and should it be worn down or damaged, it can no longer do what it is designed to. We can carry out a thorough DPC inspection to ensure that all is well.

As soon as the summer starts to turn into autumn, this is the ideal time to call London Damp Specialists on 020 8528 3864 or fill in the form on your website and book a comprehensive damp survey.