We all know about the great British climate and how unpredictable the weather can be; rain, rain and more rain seems to be the norm these days and with London being in the Thames Valley Basin, the ground remains wet in many areas. We are currently enjoying the summer, but it won’t be long before the leaves start to fall from the trees and we brace ourselves for the coming cold season.
In this short article, we offer a few tips on preparing your London home for winter, which is the season for damp and mould.
- Roof inspection – Of course, the roof is the most important component of any building, as it keeps the harsh elements at bay and a leak would lead to water entering the internal roof structure. At London Damp Surveys, autumn is a busy time as many homeowners request damp inspections; our damp survey includes a thorough roof inspection, looking for signs of damp, mould and timber rot. All it takes is a couple of roof tiles to be lifted by gale-force winds and a bout of heavy rain to cause serious damage to joists and rafters.
- Inspect exterior walls – Start at ground level, looking for crumbling mortar and moss growth; your home should be protected by a damp proof course, which is set between lower courses of brickwork. This prevents moisture rising from the ground and should the DPC be compromised in any way, trouble won’t be far away. You can use a screwdriver to poke masonry and mortar to check if damp is present. Rising damp can cause serious damage to a building and timely intervention is crucial, any signs of damage should be investigated.
- Checking the interior walls and ceilings – Look for damp patches, tidal marks and stains on walls and ceilings, which are sure signs of damp; peeling wallpaper and bubbling paint are bad news; damp walls need to be investigated and we at London Damp Surveys have a team of fully qualified damp surveyors who are ready to inspect your London home and our inspectors are qualified and use cutting-edge tools and equipment to accurately assess London properties for damp, mould and timber rot.
- Condensation – Excess moisture turns to droplets that form on cold surfaces, which can damage materials and if your home suffers from condensation, give us a call on 0207 305 5997 or fill in the online form and arrange for one of our certified damp surveyors to inspect the property. Adequate ventilation can effectively reduce and prevent condensation, which can come from opening a few windows or correct use of extractor fans. A dry cloth can be used to wipe up any condensation before it can do any damage and we recommend keeping a dry cloth in any room where condensation is an issue.
If you would like the peace of mind that comes with a professional damp survey, call London Damp Surveys and arrange for one of our surveyors to inspect your property.
