Here at Peninsula Group, we are specialists in damp proofing on the Wirral.
Our experience team cover all areas of the Wirral. Rising damp or penetrating damp can be a big problem for homeowners in certain climates and if not dealt with effectively it can become the bane of your life, causing unsightly marks, an unhealthy living environment and potential structural damage to your home.
Damp-proofing your home can be costly, but it is worth getting a professional damp survey done by a reputable company and getting it fixed by an expert to prevent long-term property damage.
Any property, new or old, can suffer from damp problems, but it is particularly prevalent in older buildings which were typically built using highly permeable materials, like stone, clay and lime-based mortar and often have no damp-proof membranes or damp course.
This lack of damp-proof coursing makes older buildings more suspectable to rising damp, condensation, hygroscopic damp and penetrating damp. Fortunately, there are ways of dealing with most forms of damp in existing buildings and the addition of proper damp proofing can offer a long-term solution to your problems.
At Peninsula Group we provide damp proofing on the Wirral. Contact our friendly team today.
Signs of Damp
Penetrating damps tends to move horizontally across ceilings and walls and is often seen on the first floor or above. Rising damp moves vertically from ground floor level up the walls as moisture is absorbed from the ground. It is important that as soon as you see any signs of damp, you act quickly and seek professional help to do something about it. Some of the common signs of damp to be on the lookout for in your home include,
- A musty or wet smell, especially when all the windows are closed
- A damp or cold feeling when touching the walls, floors or ceiling
- Visible mould or mildew on the walls, floors or ceilings. Black mould is a clear sign that you have a damp problem, especially if the black mould is localised above the skirting boards.
- Peeling wallpaper that typically peels from the skirting boards upwards
- Excessive condensation on the interior of windows
- Tide marks caused by evaporation and salts from the ground – these are typically seen up to 1 meter above your skirting boards
- Dark and discoloured yellowish-brown patches on walls or marks that have started at the base of your walls and are slowly moving higher
- Rotting skirting boards that are cracked, crumble easily or have fungus growing on them
- Flaky, crumbling plaster and paint
- Tiles, vinyl or carpets that are wet, constantly smell damp or are lifting
- A white, powdery substance on your walls. These are salts that are seeping out of damp bricks and into the plaster. This can also look like blisters on your wall and if you run your hand over the wall you can hear a crunchy sound
What is damp-proof coursing?
Damp-proof coursing (DPC) is a barrier or treatment applied to a property or structure to prevent moisture and penetrating damp from being absorbed via capillary action through walls and floors and moving from the exterior to the interior of your property.
Damp-proof coursing can be laid either horizontally or vertically and is typically found below all masonry walls. The majority of houses should have a damp-proof course of about 150 mm above ground level.
This is usually visible as a slightly thicker mortar course with a slate or bitumen sheet and these materials are resistant to rising damp, except when the foundations subside causing the damp-proof course to crack.
Just because a house is not built with the damp-proof course or the damp course is no longer effective, does not mean that you have to suffer from damp problems for the rest of time.
Damp-proof course repair can be carried out using a variety of treatments including injectable damp coursing and is a viable long-term answer to a damp situation in your home. Damp-proof course repair will prevent moisture from moving from the exterior of your property to the interior through your walls.
An injectable water-based silicon solution can create a barrier to effectively prevent moisture from moving through the cavity walls and damaging the inside of your home and ruining your wallpaper, paint, carpets, and furniture.
