London Weather and How Damp Impacts Houses

Those who are old enough to have grown up children will remember those blazing summers that seemed to be never-ending; fast forward and we never see the sun; it might be global warming or even geo-engineering! Whatever the reason, the cold, wet weather seems to be parked right over the British Isles and aside from making us all feel miserable, the damp atmosphere enables moisture and mould to invade buildings.

Rising damp

We have teams of damp proofing teams in London, and they are busy waterproofing basements and damp proofing homes. Rising damp is the number one issue we face; moisture that is drawn up from the ground and this usually due to a defective DPC membrane, usually in older properties and we can use a DPC injection to protect the house from rising damp.

Penetrating damp

Simply put, this is moisture entering the building by any means; it might be a leaking roof, or compromised brickwork, moisture moves through materials with a capillary action, penetrating masonry, mortar, timber and render. Signs include damp patches on walls or ceilings, a musky smell in the house is an indication of mould and mildew and we happen to specialise in dealing with penetrating damp proofing in London, using a range of treatments.

Basement waterproofing

Known as basement tanking, the wet weather is a serious threat to below-ground spaces and we have all the solutions, from water-resistant cement to cavity drainage systems, we can waterproof a basement, wine cellar or man-cave, and we guarantee our work for a full 30 years! London has more basements than any other UK city and in regions where clay is present, our services are in high demand.

Condensation

Excess moisture can form condensation on surfaces like glass and interior walls; if you notice a build-up of condensation on your windows, check to see if there is an airflow. Good ventilation will remove condensation, so open windows periodically; another way to deal with condensation is to heat the whole house; this might not be ideal if you are not using specific rooms, however, if you want to dry out the air, heating the house will do it. A few hours are all it takes and for what it costs, at least you are reducing the moisture content.

The importance of regular damp inspections

If there are areas of the house that are never used, you should inspect often, as once damp takes hold, damage is irreversible. We recommend inspecting the home every few weeks and open some windows upstairs and downstairs to let the humid air circulate.

Free damp survey

London Damp Specialists offer a free damp survey for London homeowners who suspect they have damp issues in their property; we provide a detailed report, plus we offer a quote for remedial and damp proofing work that we recommend.

Call us now on 020 7458 4864 and let the experts assess your London home for damp, mould and condensation.