Preparing Your Home for Winter Damp Issues – A Comprehensive Guide

Winters here in the UK are no laughing matter and for London homeowners, the autumn months are a time to prepare the home for the onslaught that winter invariably brings. While damp can be an issue at any time of the year, winter is by far the worst season and in this short article, we outline damp prevention strategies that you can employ to keep your home dry in the winter months.

• Roof inspection – A leaking roof will surely lead to water entering the internal roof structure, which damages timber joists and rafters; excessive water will eventually run down to the upstairs ceilings, causing damp patches to appear on plaster, peeling paint and wallpaper in the process. If you are not inclined to climb on the roof, contact a local roofing contractor to carry out a detailed roof inspection and clean out the guttering.
• Loft inspection – It is important to carry out a loft inspection to check the timber joists and rafters for damp damage, woodworm, wet and dry rot. Take a powerful flashlight and scan all areas in the loft; take extra care where you tread, do not step between the roof joists as you could end up falling through into a bedroom! Should you find signs of damp in your loft, call London Damp Specialists on 020 7458 4864 or fill in the form on this website.
• Check exterior walls for signs of damp damage – Start at the building line where the damp proof course is located; a very important component, DPC membrane prevents rising damp and you need to check the entire property, while also inspecting the walls up to the roof. Penetrating damp starts at exterior walls and if not treated, it permeates through to the interior.
• Condensation – Winter is the worst season for condensation in London homes and you can reduce it by creating an airflow throughout your home. Opening a few windows dries the air out, while turning on the central heating in every room periodically is another way to reduce condensation. Good ventilation is critical to combat condensation and we have all the best condensation solutions that work.
• Timber inspection – You should inspect all timber in your home, looking for tell-tale signs of woodworm, wet and dry rot. If you discover damaged timber, we offer comprehensive timber preservative treatment and all our work comes with a 30-year guarantee.

If you don’t have the time to carry out a pre-winter home inspection, we offer a free damp survey for London homeowners and we offer a quote for recommended remedial work.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that damp is something that happens to others, it is a very real threat to every property and it makes total sense to protect your home, which is a major investment that will increase in value if you take good care of it. We hope this information helps you to carry out a thorough pre-winter damp inspection, ensuring that your home remains dry throughout the cold season.