The Importance of Regular Damp Inspections: Preventing Issues Before They Arise

London property owners know all about dampness and how it can seriously damage a building and the best way to approach this is by taking a proactive stance. In this short article, we highlight the need for regular damp inspections to prevent moisture problems from arising.

What does a damp inspection entail?

At London Damp Specialists, we offer a homebuyer survey, which has 3 levels:

• Level 1: A detailed inspection of all walls, ceiling and floors, looking for signs of damp, mould and condensation.
• Level 2: All of level 1, plus a close examination of all timber structures and loft timbers, looking for rot and woodworm.
• Level 3: All of level 1 and 2, plus the use of thermal imaging, borescope cameras, testing the air for humidity, drone imagery and a ventilation flow test.
• An additional plaster analysis test for moisture content.

Ideally, a damp survey should be an annual practice to give you early detection in the event damp affects your home. We also quote for any remedial work that we recommend.

Condensation

Condensation is moisture that is in liquid form and is generally found on windowpanes and timber frames. Wipe water that collects on window sills, which helps to protect woodwork.

Basement waterproofing

As you would expect, basement waterproofing in London in a popular service that homeowners need. A below-ground living space requires watertight sealing, which is known as basement tanking, which involves sealing basement walls, floors and ceilings. If you would like your basement tested for moisture, call London Damp Specialists on 020 8528 3864 during office hours or you can fill in the form on our website.

Be proactive regarding damp

You can do the following to prevent damp from damaging your home:

• Keep the bathroom door closed until condensation dissipates after a hot bath/shower.
• Open bathroom and kitchen windows when condensation forms.
• Have your home inspected for damp every year by London Damp Specialists.
• Closely inspect exterior walls, looking for crumbling masonry, moss and mould growth.
• Inspect all timber frames, looking for woodworm and dry rot.
• Interior walls inspection, checking for damp patches and other signs of moisture.

If you wait until you see signs of dampness and mould, the damage is already done by the time you notice. It makes complete sense to be vigilant regarding moisture issues in the home; damp repairs can be very costly and early detection will save a fortune on damp proofing services.

Musky odour

When damp invades a property, it typically comes with a musky smell, so if you notice a mould smell in the house, contact us for a full damp survey in London and you will receive a detailed written report within 24 hours of the survey being completed.

London Damp Specialists is a family-owned business and we offer surveys and damp proofing services across London and the Home Counties. Our work comes with a full 30-year guarantee and if you would like a detailed report on the status of your home, we offer a range of surveys designed to identify damp, mould and condensation within a property.