The weather in London and the Southeast could be described as wet and muggy; the absence of the Sun over the past few years might be due to global warming, which means damp does not get dried out and with heavy bouts of rain, the atmosphere is ideal for damp and mould to impact buildings.
Rising Damp
Above average rainfall means wet ground and if the damp proof course is compromised, rising damp is a very real threat; damp and soggy ground is common in areas where a clay base is found and if your home is in such an area, you need to be vigilant and regularly inspect the exterior walls at ground level. A damp proof course prevents moisture from rising up the walls and in older homes, the DPC can easily be damaged; ground subsidence is one culprit that can cause the material to tear and perhaps the best solution is chemical DPC, which is injected into walls.
Leaking roof
Heavy rain can lead to a leaking roof and regular roof inspections are advised; if you book a damp survey with London Damp Surveys, one of our qualified surveyors would carry out a thorough roof inspection, checking the internal roof structure for signs of damp, mould and woodworm. The survey includes exterior and interior wall inspections, using cutting-edge equipment to assess the building, with a written report issued within 24 hours of the survey.
Condensation
A damp atmosphere is one where condensation can thrive, add to that a lack of ventilation and you have an environment where condensation can form. This needs to be investigated; ventilation is important and you can remove bathroom and kitchen condensation by opening windows. Installing a few extractor fans around the house is another way to generate an airflow, which should reduce the risk of condensation.
Penetrating damp
Damp can penetrate through exterior walls if the brickwork/rendering is compromised; driving rain can easily cause brickwork and mortar to become damaged and if the moisture gets into the interior walls, wallpaper would peel and paint would bubble.
Basement waterproofing
Known as basement tanking, there are several ways to carry out basement waterproofing in London; one is using a membrane system with spaces behind walls and ceilings where water is collected and sent to a sump area, where it is pumped to designated drainage points. Interior basement sealing is popular in London, as many older properties are in need of such systems. Low-lying areas with clay-based ground make for a difficult solution for basement waterproofing and a team of experts would be needed for such a project.
If you are planning to buy a London property, contact London Damp Surveys on 0207 305 5997 or fill in the form on this website and one of our qualified damp surveyors would contact you to arrange a date and time to carry out a thorough damp inspection. You receive a detailed report within 24 hours of the survey completion.
