If you are planning to invest in a London property, you have come to the right place, as we present essential information about damp and mould issues. Property prices are the highest in the country in London and rather than taking it on face value, you need to ensure that the building is not compromised by damp or mould.
Here is a damp checklist to help you discover whether or not a property has damp or mould issues.
- Inspect the roof – A leaking roof is definitely a source of moisture entering the interior roof structure. Imagine a few roof tiles being lifted off the roof during gale force winds; the chances are you would not be aware of this and a few heavy rain showers is all it takes to let water into the internal roof structure and that would cause damage to joists and rafters. Another potential issue is blocked roof guttering, as this would result in excess rainwater running down the exterior walls. If you book a damp inspection with London Damp Surveys, a comprehensive roof inspection is included.
- Inspect exterior walls – Damp can penetrate exterior walls if brickwork, masonry or rendering is compromised; use a screwdriver to poke masonry and mortar to test the integrity of the material. Check the walls at ground level to see if rising damp is present, which can be the result of damaged damp proof course, which is sandwiched between brick courses to prevent moisture rising up the exterior walls. Often, the best solution is to inject a chemical damp-proofing material that sets and prevents moisture rising.
- Condensation – This can cause a lot of damage to a building; caused by excessive moisture in the air, condensation can form on walls and windows and it should be wiped up with a dry cloth. Of course, you need to get to the underlying cause of condensation, which might be lack of ventilation or penetrating damp and the best way to do this is to commission a damp inspection from London Damp Surveys; we cover all London Boroughs and our team of qualified damp surveyors are always ready to assess your home.
- Inspect interior walls – Start with the upstairs, looking for damp patches, peeling wallpaper or bubbling paint. If you see tidal marks, this is an indication that water was present and has dried out. Check the ground floor walls and ceilings for signs of damp and should you find signs of moisture, it needs to be investigated.
If you are planning to make an offer on a London property, don’t take any chances, call London Damp Surveys on 0207 305 5997 during regular office hours or fill in the form on this website. Our qualified damp surveyors use state-of-the-art equipment to inspect a building and if damp, mould, woodworm or condensation are present, our surveyor will find it and you will receive a detailed report shortly after the survey completion.
