Damp is caused by water exposure which in turn can be caused by rain, leaking pipes, bad ventilation and more. Issues with damp in the home occurs when the moisture travels laterally from your external walls to your internal walls.

There are three kinds of damp: Condensation, penetrating damp and rising damp. Condensation is the most common type of damp. It is caused poor ventilation and an excess of moisture in the air.

Penetrating damp, also known as “rain penetration” is the build-up of water ingress through the walls, roof or windows. It especially effects buildings in coastal areas due to the wet and humid climate, but can occur in any part of the country. When it is wet out, the moisture penetrates tiny holes in defective brickwork, cracked pointing, blocked weep holes or defective seals. During the colder months, water can get into cracked brick, freeze, expand and then thaw, allowing more water in and gradually making the problem worse.  It can occur in any building but is more common within older buildings. Once damp has infiltrated the home, cold damp spots cool the walls down and your home loses heat, leading to even more damp. Damp and humidity indoors are perfect conditions for mould to grow.

Rising damp is less common. It refers to when moisture travels up from the ground and through the walls. It is caused by bricks containing tiny tubes which effectively suck up water from the ground. When this happens, salt is washed out of the brickwork and will eventually build up, stain and crumble the walls, showing signs of wear and tear.

If you are experiencing symptoms of damp you need to investigae the source of the problem in order to use correct treatment. The incorrect treatment can exacerbate the issue as the damp and mould will quickly come back. If the source is external, you are likely to be affected by penetrating damp.