Understanding Rising, Penetrating and Condensation Damp

We are certainly not a stranger to dampness here in the UK, the damp weather seems to have decided to stay for the foreseeable future and this can cause significant damage to buildings. All damp is penetrative by nature and rising damp comes from moist ground and climbs up walls, which is why buildings have a damp proof membrane installed at ground level.

How is penetrating damp different from rising damp?

The difference being that penetrating damp can affect any part of a building, the roof, the walls or even floors, while rising damp specifically attacks material just above the building’s ground line. Damp will penetrate any material it comes into contact with, damaging brickwork, masonry, mortar and timber. If you notice signs of damp in your home, call London Damp Specialists and arrange for a property damp survey and you will receive a detailed survey report within one day of survey completion.

Condensation

This is a phenomenon that occurs when two different temperatures meet, typically on a windowpane, when the moisture turns into water on the inner glass surface. Pour cold beer into a glass and you can watch condensation form on the outside the glass as room temperature meets the cold glass and this is what happens in a home with moisture issues. There are things you can do to minimise condensation, such as closing the bathroom door when taking a hot shower or bath to keep the moisture from affecting the rest of the house and opening the windows to let dry air in and moist air out. You might be wondering how to find a condensation specialist near me, and we are proud to be a leading provider of damp services. Ventilation is essential to reduce/remove moisture that causes condensation and at London Damp Specialists, we offer a ventilation flow test as part of a thorough damp survey.

The importance of early detection

All forms of damp cause significant damage to buildings, which is why you need regular inspections; at London Damp Specialists, we offer London homeowners a range of damp surveys carried out by certified surveyors, call us on 020 8528 3864 during office hours or fill in the online form on our website. You can also be proactive by regularly inspecting walls, ceilings and floors, looking for damp, mould and mildew and should you find evidence of moisture, we offer damp proofing in London that is guaranteed for 30 years.

Selling your home

If you are in the process of selling your London home, why not order a homebuyer damp survey? Any potential buyer would be very happy to see the survey report that states the property is free from damp and is structurally sound. This is a great selling point and it saves the new owner from having to survey the building for dampness and condensation, which would be the natural thing to do prior to signing the contract.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that damp is something that only affects other people’s homes, it is a very real threat to every property in London and the entire UK.