Year-Round Tips for Preventing Seasonal Damp in Your Home

The harsh UK climate is no laughing matter, endless days of heavy cloud with almost no sun and this can cause damp to attack a building. Mould and mildew thrive in wet and humid conditions and if a property is not protected, rising damp is a real threat, especially on wet ground.

Here are a few tips to prevent damp issues in your home.

• Regular roof inspections – At least once per year, you should call a local roofing contractor who can undertake a roof inspection. Specifically looking for things like missing roof tiles and blocked guttering, the tradesman would write you a detailed report on the status of your roof and for the little it costs, you have peace of mind.
• Heat the whole house – Some might say this is wasteful, especially with rising energy price hikes; if your home has moisture in the air, the heating will dry it out. No need to have the central heating on for more than 2 hours on a daily basis and this will prevent the formation of mould on walls and floors.
• Effective ventilation – This is a must if you want to prevent damp spores from further evolving; At London Damp Specialists, we can carry out ventilation flow tests as part of a comprehensive damp survey; there are 3 survey levels, with an additional service to test plaster samples from selected areas of the building.
• Annual damp survey – We offer an independent damp survey that encompasses a range of tests, providing you with a detailed report within 24 hours of the work being completed. We have many London homeowners who use our services on a regular basis, especially during the winter, and we cover a large area in and around London.
• Timber inspection – This should be a thorough examination of all structural timbers from rafters, joists and timber flooring. When dampness meets timber, rising damp is born and that could lead to 1000s of pounds in repairs. Time waits for no man, nor does it wait for natural changes; older properties are especially at risk from woodworm, wet and dry rot. Overlook this at your peril!
• Check the building perimeter – Walk around the house, looking for any water on or near the base courses of brickwork, remove items that lean against the wall and check the ground for moisture. This is especially important on low ground, where moisture levels can be high, inspect the brickwork/rendering, looking for signs of crumbling and check all window and door frames for mould or signs of decay.

Damp is a real threat to London homeowners and if you haven’t inspected your home recently, call London Damp Services on 020 8528 3864 or fill in the form on our website. We offer a 30-year guarantee on our work and we have a good name within the industry for providing accurate surveys and first-class damp proofing. Our professional surveyors work to your schedule and we pride ourselves on attention to detail.

It makes total sense to protect your home, which is a very valuable asset.