Penetrating Damp in Belfast
Damp coming in from outside is often a cheap fix once the source is found.
2009PCA Technician of the Year
87Google reviews, rated Excellent
PCAtrained surveyor
The short answer
Penetrating damp is rainwater getting into a building through its outside. Common sources are defective gutters and downpipes, cracked or blown render, poor pointing, failed window and door seals and high external ground levels. Fixing the source usually fixes the damp.
Signs of penetrating damp
- Damp patches that appear or get worse after rain
- Staining on ceilings or walls beneath gutters, roofs or windows
- Damp on an outside wall at any height, not just near the floor
- Peeling paint, mould or salt marks around windows and doors
What causes penetrating damp?
- Defective or blocked rainwater goods
- Cracked, blown or failed render
- Poor or missing pointing
- High external ground levels and a bridged damp-proof course (lateral penetrating damp)
- Defective window and door seals
- Exposed or leaking service pipes
How we diagnose it
We trace the damp back to where the water gets in, checking the outside of the building as well as the damp internal wall.
How we treat it
- Find where the water is entering
- Repair the defect, for example rainwater goods, render, pointing or seals
- Let the wall dry out, then replaster and redecorate if needed
Penetrating Damp FAQs
Is penetrating damp the same as rising damp?
No. Rising damp comes up from the ground; penetrating damp comes in from outside and can appear at any height.
Will damp proofing injections cure it?
No. A damp-proof course will not stop rainwater getting through a wall. The entry point has to be fixed.
Damp after rain?
Book a survey and get an honest answer on what needs doing, and what does not.
or call 077 0728 0594
Related services
Damp or timber problem?
Book a survey and get an honest answer on what needs doing.