How to stop damp problems on your walls

One of the most common issues with any home, new or old, is the problem of damp. Moist air, condensation, and poor ventilation will cause issues.

Poor insulation can also quickly leave your home with a continuous musty smell. Ignore it and fail to reduce condensation and other root causes and your internal walls and external walls will soon have constant damp patches. Worse still, when left unattended, wet walks promote rapid mould growth that produces toxic black spores that will cause breathing difficulties. But that’s enough of the scare stories, we’re all about solutions.

Keep reading to hear how to correct issues like rising damp, penetrating damp, and unpleasant damp smells. Just what you would expect when you come to the experts at the Federation of Damp!

Try damp-proof paint

One of the apparently simplest approaches to walls that are constantly trapping moisture and wood that is subject to wet rot in cold weather is damp-proof paint. While any damp specialist will tell you that your walls and window frames — as well as any other cold surface — may well need a full damp proof course, this is a popular DIY approach to take.

Using paint that is damp proof is all about providing a robust sealing layer that is designed to prevent modest damp problems such as damp patches. A word of caution: if you have a persistent musty smell and a lot of moist air, you’re not going to get rid of your damp problems with a new coat of paint.

The best approach is to think of this versatile type of paint as the final touch to protect your internal walls from the damaging impact of cold air, not as a cure-all that will magically solve complex issues like rising damp and penetrating damp.

To get to the bottom of what you really need to do, we’re going to start by taking a look at rising damp.

What is rising damp?

Rising damp is essentially when your home sucks water up through the foundations and out of the ground. It can result in large damp patches that start on downstairs walls and floors before then penetrating the rest of the house if the correct damp proof course is not put into action.

The problem with rising damp is that it is not something you can solve with a quick bit of DIY. A rising damp solution needs to be applied by a damp specialist and will typically include the installation of a dedicated damp proof membrane.

If you are in any doubt about who to hire to take care of your new damp proof course, the Federation of Damp can connect you with experts in rising damp solutions in seconds.

Rising damp treatment

Rising damp is best tackled by a specialist who will be able to assess the integrity and sealing of your foundations against groundwater. Complex issues, such as what type of soil your home is built on (clay holds a lot more water than other types, for example) will further complicate matters.

The installation of a damp proof membrane will provide a degree of robust protection, as will other forms of specialist sealing. Many damp issues will have multiple contributory facts, one of which is virtually always damp air that is poorly ventilated.

The installation of extractor fans and dehumidifiers is another common step that will likely be carried out during your damp proof course.

There is also another type of damp that we need to draw your attention to.

What is penetrating damp?

Penetrating damp is when moisture comes through your external walls and causes wet walls in the interior of your home. Also known as moisture penetrating damp, it will likely feel like there is a constant background level of cool air and too much moisture in your home.

As well as causing damage to the internal aesthetics and external structure of your walls, penetrating damp can make it virtually impossible to perform everyday tasks, such as getting dry clothes ready. A specialist damp proof course is the only way to solve this and starts with a key step.

Remove excess moisture to combat penetrating damp

Penetrating damp is caused by cold and wet external walls combined with poor ventilation and damp air. Let’s first look at how to combat the excess moisture as it’s the breeding ground for toxic black mould.

Keeping your room at a constant temperature that is warm and comfortable for continuous habitation is one of the key things to do. Doing this will help stop cold weather causing the temperature in the room to plummet and water droplets in the air to be sucked onto your interior walls.

While warm air will prevent cold water droplets from settling on your interior walls, you also need to be able to reduce the moisture content in the air. The best approach here is to improve ventilation:

• Install window vents on your window frames to help cold, damp air leave the building
• Use silicone sealant around windows and doors to prevent water from coming in via drafts
• Invest in a dehumidifier at the same time as an external damp proof course

Better ventilation will go some way to removing that bothersome musty smell, but the job is only half done. To fully eliminate damp smells, you need to invest in an external damp proof course.

How to treat damp walls externally

Penetrating damp is coming into your property due to wet and cold external walls that are not adequately sealed and insulated.

Adding cavity wall insulation will go some way to solving this problem as it erects a barrier between the mating surfaces of your interior and exterior walls.

If you want to fully get rid of this frustrating type of damp, your exterior walls may need sealing or rendering. The idea is to provide a robust barrier that sits between the porous bricks that form your outside walls and the cold air outside.

While we wouldn’t expect you to know which building materials to choose to stop water ingress of this form, you may well hear your chosen damp pro talk about lime mortar as a way to keep water vapour at bay.

Double glazing is another investment that will greatly reduce the likelihood of mould spores growing around your windows as it provides protection against the buildup of condensation. While upgrading your window frames can be expensive, it’s nothing compared to issues like structural damage and peeling paint that damp will soon cause.

More information on penetrating damp

While you no doubt agree with us that to stop rising damp, you need a pro, it’s tempting to try and stop peeling paint due to penetrating damp on your own. The problem here is that core elements of the building fabric — from the choice of mortar to the way the skirting boards have been fitted — will all complicate matters. Add in the notoriously tricky complication of window frames and you can cause yourself a real headache.

The best approach is to come to the Federation of Damp for guidance on everything from cavity wall insulation to new double glazing. They can also figure out whether you have dry rot issues, where to install your new extractor fan, and look at any surfaces that tend to attract condensation. Only then will you be able to get dry clothes out of your cupboard without ever having to worry about damp smells.

Get rid of this complex issue and start dealing with damp the smart way today by following the steps below.

What will your damp-proof course include?

Damp is such a subtle, nuanced, and complex issue that you will always need the services of a trusted and qualified professional to prevent mould.

Expect your chosen specialist to look at a wide range of potential issues and causes, including but not limited to:

• Check window frames for drafts and degraded sealing that cause issues
• Quantify the different open windows will make when you need to avoid condensation
• Any signs of water leaking, regardless of how slow, over an extended period of time
• Ground water pooling and whether it is causing water ingress to occur
• Broken guttering could be keeping your exterior wetter and colder for longer
• Likely sources of black mould that could be combated by having less moisture in the air

Now that you know what’s included, we need to say a few words about what’s covered.

Is damp-proofing work guaranteed?

Yes, every professional you will find via the Federation of Damp will provide a full guarantee with all of their work.

Whether they inspect your chimney breast to treat a surrounding surface that will attract condensation or they install an extractor fan, everything is guaranteed. Big or small, you can sleep easy knowing that everything that is done to defeat damp and black mould is backed and guaranteed.

How can I ensure my damp-proof course continues to work?

Open windows frequently, get ongoing support from a specialist, and only dry clothes in a well-ventilated area. Dealing with damp in a proactive manner like this will work wonders for your home, even if it is part of one of the many flat conversions in the nation’s historic buildings that can require extra damp proofing.

How do you permanently get rid of damp walls?

Better ventilation, suitable membranes, and professional-grade sealant and treatment of exterior surfaces will solve your damp issues once and for all.

Will turning the heating up stop damp?

If damp has already taken hold, you will need the input and help of a specialist and a thorough course of damp treatments. That said, turning the heating up and maintaining good airflow is something that is of paramount importance once the course has been applied and you want to ensure damp does not return in the future.

Can my damp house ever be fixed?

Yes, please do not despair! Damp, while frustrating, costly, and potentially damaging to your health can be solved. Rather than patching up tell-tale signs such as peeling paint yourself, connect with a Federation of Damp specialist for an expert helping hand.

Now that you know what to do, it’s over to you to put everything you’ve read into action.

We’re right here when you need us!