FAQs, Customer Questions & Expert Answers

Damp within homes is a very common issue. A high amount of damp caused in properties is due to poor maintenance, a lack of adequate ventilation and often in older properties, high ground levels can result in the lack of an effective damp proof course.

Modern houses often have bad ventilation and mixed with poor use of heating can result in condensation problems.

Some properties may have been built without a DPC or those that have been built with one, may find this is no longer working to its full capacity because of changes in ground levels, damage from building renovations or frequently with buildings built on sloping site and hills, the older damp proofing measures are no longer working well enough to meet our modern day standards.

A DPC is a ‘Damp Proof Course’ which is a barrier inserted through the bottom of the wall to prevent water rising from the soil in to the wall. Older properties were not normally built with one, however the were introduced generally from around 1875.

Older Damp proof courses were usually built from slate however in construction nowadays they are made from plastic. When a new DPC is installed as a remedial measure, this is usually installed by making holes into the walls and injecting a waterproof liquid or high strength chemical cream which forms the new damp proof course by creating a strong protection barrier within your wall.

Major issues with damp walls is that timbers in contact with the walls which are susceptible to decay. When damp gets bad, certain levels of dampness may also ruin your decorations and damage plaster work.

We have solutions for several different types of damp proofing in order to provide you with the specific cure for damp you are experiencing. The type of damp treatment you need depends on the problem, the type of construction originally ie brick or stone etc and the arrangements of ground levels and drainage etc.

We carry out damp proof injection using silicone injected DPC and thixotropic damp proofing creams.

Our waterproofing rendering system is an excellent salt barrier and overcomes problems of salt damp in masonry.

Our waterproofing systems include Structural waterproofing systems.

We cover the whole of Oxfordshire, London, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, and Essex.

If you wish to know more about the services we provide in your area, don’t hesitate to call us on 07562719091.

The majority of properties are very likely to have had a form of damp treatment carried out previously, but this may no longer be sufficient to meet our modern day standards and often alterations carried out during renovations will damage existing damp proof courses and / or remove previous waterproofing.

The addition of new driveways and patios etc often bridges old damp proof courses as ground levels are raised.

Many basements and cellars are now being upgraded into usable space where previously these rooms may have been coal stores or left empty.

If you are unsure whether or not your property has adequate damp proofing systems installed book a survey here.

Advanced Damp LTD serve a large area of the south of England including Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, and London. Visit our location page by clicking here…

The different types of damp represent themselves in different ways but have some common indicators include:

• Damp or musty smell
• Excessive condensation on windows
• Tide marks on the wall
• Peeling wallpaper or paint
• Discoloured or dark patches on the floors, wall, & ceilings
• Mould or mildew growth

Each damp issue is unique regarding how severe the damage problem has been caused and the extent of work it requires. If you want to get a quote and know the areas that are affected by the damp, you can use our damp proof estimator to calculate the cost. Besides, contact us at 07562719091 and our experts will help you out with the price. 

When a damp proof course is installed, we offer a guarantee of 20 years. With our expertise and experience, you don’t have to worry about the returning of the damp. But, if the problem still occurs, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will arrange a re-inspection under the terms of the guarantee and check what goes wrong. Though it is not possible that our work is defective, but if this is the case, we retreat the area. Besides, if there is another reason for the recurring damp problem, it will be highlighted, and our experts will give helpful advice. 

There are several methods to install a remedial and reliable damp proof course. First, a chemical injected damp proof course is inserted using a particularly formulated cream or a water-based product. Then, damp experts at Advanced Damp drill the wall at a suitable level, and the chemical is injected into the holes, building a barrier to rising damp. 

Also, a mortar injection damp proof course is used in rubble stone walls. Besides this, DPC can be applied through an electro-osmosis technique. It requires the use of an electric charge which is installed via wires to the walls and earthed to the ground reversing the capillary action polarity and pulling the damp into the ground. 

Diagnosing damp by yourself can become expensive, as the wrong diagnoses and treatment methods can cause structural damage to the property. Besides, the best way to get rid of damps begins with the actual cause of the damp and finding the source of damp. So, if that very step is misdiagnosed, you are likely to end up with more losses. 

At Advanced Damp, we have surveyors with decades of experience that will help your find the source, cause, and most effective treatment for your damp problems. So, we encourage getting in touch with a specialist damp proofing company to get the suggestions. 

The typical indicators of rising dampness in your home include:

• Wet patches on walls
• Flaky salts within the plaster
• Bubbling of plaster
• Musty or damp smell
• Crumbling of mortar between bricks
• The appearance of black moulds 

At Advanced Damp, our experts use a moisture meter to create a moisture profile which, with our experience, is usually sufficient.

Rising damp is often misdiagnosed, and it is the reason that leads to the failure of most systems. All our surveyors diagnosing rising damp are CSRT qualified and possess the necessary skills to make accurate diagnoses. 

Homes are surrounded by the moisture present in the environment that tries to penetrate its way through the property. Rising damp occurs when the water from the ground rises upwards due to capillary action. When the damp proofing course is missing or damaged, then rising damp occurs. Besides, the standard mortar and bricks having the large pore structure relative to the engineering brick having a compact pore pattern result in moisture rising. 

No. Once the plaster is damaged and contaminated with salt. It needs to be replaced. However, some systems don’t require removing application while treating damp. Plaster removal is only required while performing certain types of damp proofing, including methods to fix rising damp like forms of tanking plastered over. 

It is quite challenging to tell the difference between wet rot and dry rot. However, here are some differentiating signs:

Wet Rot:

• The appearance of black fungus on timber
• Timber gets spongy and soft  along with the discolouration
• When the decay gets dried out, wood will easily crack and shatter 
• Paint finish gets damage

Dry Rot:

• Fungus leaves cracks around the grain with mycelium growth
• Fungus reflects a lime-yellow tinge under light exposure
• Timbers get brown and get crumbled as the dry rot feeds on the wood
• In some instances, it leads to the growth of flat large fruiting bodies like mushrooms

Looking simply at the timber is not always enough and requires further investigation and also a specialist. Our expert surveyors have the CSRT qualification that also includes timber examination.

Following damp proofing and re-plastering works, it is always advisable to let the walls dry out for as long as possible before carrying out the redecoration. Time taken to dry depends on various factors like the ventilation provided, the extent of dampness, and the room temperature. At Advanced Damp, we usually advise delaying at least 2-3 weeks after plastering or rendering and use vapour permeable water-based microporous emulsion. 

At some time or the other, every home gets condensations. When a considerable amount of steam and moisture are being produced in your house, for example, while cooking a meal, drying wet clothes inside, or at bath times, it is normal to observe mist on the bedroom windows in the morning after a cold night. The air can carry up to a certain amount of water vapours only. The warmer it is more it can carry. When the air comes in contact with a cold surface such as a wall, window, or mirror, it turns water vapours into condensation droplets. So, keep your home warmer to avoid condensation. 

Though infrequent episodes of condensation is usually nothing to stress about, if it happens often, it can lead to damp issues and mould growth, both of which can have severe consequences for your health as well as property.

Condensation is the build-up of moisture as a result of a lack of proper condensation. Therefore, you must air your home regularly by opening windows and doors that help clear out damp air and reduce condensation. 

Spray or wipe down windows and walls with a fungicidal wash that is HSE (Health and Safety Executive) approved and make sure to follow the safety instructions. You can find fungicidal washes at the supermarkets easily. Next, shampoo your carpets and dry-clean your mildewed clothes. Avoid using a vacuum or brush to remove mould. Then, re-decorate it using good-quality fungicidal resistant wallpaper paste and paint to prevent recurring mould. 

The anti-condensation or fungicidal paint is of no use if covered with ordinary wallpaper or paint. The reduction of condensation in your house is the only permanent cure. The way you carry out your routine activities affects the amount of condensation in your home. 

In general, dampness can cause various respiratory health issues, especially amongst children, the elderly, and people with allergies and asthma. Therefore, saying it is dangerous is strong, but it is not healthy for individuals depending on their health. 

However, it is pretty rare to get any health problems due to penetrating damp. On the other hand, if the damp is severe, it can be potentially harmful to the health of the habitants. 

The first step is to identify the source of moisture. Next, locate the place from where is the water coming and how is it getting into the building. Then, repair the defect, such as leakages, cracks, etc., to stop water from entering the building. Finally, consider what repair must be done on the affected or damaged area due to penetrating damp. 

Yes, it can lead to the growth of black mould on the surface of the wall. The cold surfaces on the inside walls of the building caused by penetrating damping are highly prone to moisture condensation. Besides, issues with damp, poorly ventilated and heated basements and buildings with inadequate waterproofing are also ideal conditions for mould growth. 

If you are worried about the growth of black mould in your property, call us at 07562719091, and our damp specialists can help you with appropriate solutions.