Do you think your property is experiencing dampness in walls? It isn’t a problem that will go away on its own. Whether you know the source of the damp or it’s still yet to be discovered, only the assistance of a professional will ensure that the problem will never reoccur. Read on to find out how dampness in walls could be affecting your property.

How do you know that you’ve got dampness in walls?

Dampness in walls makes itself known through a variety of different mediums that usually display themselves on the external surface of your walls.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Mould
• Tide marks up the walls
• Discolouring of walls
• Internal damage such as wet or dry rot
• Musty smells

If any of these signs occur, your property may have had a defect for a while. Structural defects are usually the main causes of damp, as they allow a way for the water to enter your property. You can find out more about how structural defects affect the type of damp you’re experiencing by reading on below.

What causes dampness in walls?

As we’ve already mentioned, dampness in walls is usually caused by a structural defect. However, in other occasions, a damp patch may just be due to a faulty appliance or bad ventilation. There are three main types of damp that exist – rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation – and the professionals at Prokil will easily be able to use the signs on your walls to work out which kind of damp it is.

Rising damp

Rising damp is caused when there’s either an absence of or a breakage in your damp proof course. The damp proof course is a layer of material that is usually inserted during the building process. It is used to create a barrier against water that filters up through the porous brickwork. When the damp proof course is missing or broken, water will start to slowly climb its way up the walls leaving a tide mark in its wake – usually one of the tell-tale signs.

The experts at Prokil have been expertly trained in supplying the solution to a broken or absent damp proof course. Usually, they’ll hand inject a special formula which travels and expands within the brickwork, blocking any more water from travelling up from the ground level, solving the issue of dampness in walls.

Penetrating damp

One of the other causes of dampness in walls is penetrating damp. Penetrating damp can spread in almost any direction, which is why it is sometimes harder to locate.  And because there’s so many potential causes of penetrating damp, it takes a little longer to rule out each one. When you hire a Prokil expert, they’ll carry out a full survey and inspection to ensure all defects are found and repaired.

Causes can include:

• Gutter leaks
• Porous brickwork
• Defective joints and seals
• Inadequate drip grooves

Condensation

Condensation is one of the biggest contributors to dampness in walls. Caused when warm air hits a cold surface, in many cases condensation is unavoidable, but there are steps you can take to ensure that it doesn’t become a major problem.

In kitchens and bathrooms where steam is a regular occurrence, purchase an extractor fan to help suck out the warm air. Make sure your windows are properly sealed to prevent cold air from getting in over the winter and windows open to air occasionally to help dry out the air.

What happens when dampness in walls is left to linger?

Discoloration and mould may only be the tip of the ice-burg. Actually inside the walls, we may have to deal with a beast of a completely different nature. If water manages to spread from the brickwork to the timber frame, you may have to face the fact that dry or wet rot has taken hold.

Wet and dry rot are caused by two different fungi that thrives in the damp, warm environment. When the fungi take hold, they grow and release spores, which helps the fungus to spread and embed itself into your wood work.

While in some cases, an agent can be applied to kill the fungus and the existing timber saved, the experts at Prokil have come across many bad cases of wet and dry rot where timber replacement is the only solution.

Why should you choose Prokil?

When you phone us concerned about dampness in walls, we’ll arrange for an expert to come over to your house as soon as possible. Once there, they’ll carry out a survey and fully inspect the suspect area to find the root of the cause of the dampness in walls. They’ll also assess the level of damage so they can give you an accurate quote which will fully outlay the cost of materials and labour required to make sure that your property is structurally sound.

Having existed for over 50 years, in that time we have built ourselves a reputation for supplying the best services for tackling dampness in walls. All of our experts have been trained in recognising the signs, applying the right treatments and applying tried and tested techniques to ensure the very best results are achieved.

As a trusted member of Checkatrade, we have nowhere to hide. You’ll find we’re trustworthy, work hard, and never attempt to sell you a service you don’t require. We also understand that dampness in walls can be a very worrisome problem to have. With that the case, our team will work efficiently to ensure your dampness is solved and eradicated as quickly as possible.

“Honest, professional people. Highly recommend. The guy was on time and full of knowledge, explained it all really well. We don’t need any damp proof work at the moment but if we do i will certainly be using these guys.”

Ben Bignell

Contact us

If you suspect your property has dampness in walls, get in touch with the Prokil team now to arrange your survey![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]