How do you get rid of damp?
By ensuring all parts of your home are in good condition and in understanding how it was built. It's like asking a car mechanic "how do I get rid of the rattling in my car". It has to be diagnosed - correctly. Turning up the radio will cover the rattling in your car just as damp proofing covers the damp but neither addresses the real causes or fixes anything.
How can you tell if you have damp?
It's difficult to tell with any accuracy and it's actually excessive damp since all materials contain some level of moisture. Typically we will see peeling wallpaper, stained or blistered paint, typically around or below windows, below chimneys, and at ground levels.
How do you treat damp walls?
Firstly, find cause of the moisture and stop it. Secondly, dry the area out using a dehumidifier or by improving ventilation. Sometimes previous re-plastering has caused the dampness and the original plaster type (lime plaster) may remain below the surface and should be repaired or re-applied.
How much does damp cost to fix?
Again, it depends on what has caused it. Lead chimney flashing, cement mortar flaunching, render repairs, roof void ventilation, removing previous waterproofing - each has to be estimated dependent on the cause. Anyone who tells you they can fix your dampness for £1,500 without looking at it is a fraudster who will just re-plaster or damp proof without identifying the true cause(s).
The causes of dampness
Moisture |
Ventilation |