Homebuyers Guide To Damp

If you are buying a house for the first time and need help with what to look out for, then our homebuyers guide to damp is ideal. Whenever you buy a property it is crucial to pay attention to any problems that there may be.

Our guide helps you to recognise and manage any damp within a property. As it can cause serious problems, it is important to resolve issues as soon as you can. It can cost you money, create stress, and impact the value of your home.

Depending on the severity of the damage that is already present and the extent of the damp itself, you may need urgent preventative measures.

How Do I Deal With Damp?

As well as consulting a professional damp expert, you need to get an accurate idea of the condition of your property. This can give you tips and advice on how to stop the same damage occurring in the future and protect your home properly.

Whether you are in the process of buying or have just bought a home, you should have the property thoroughly inspected. As well as finding out more about the building, you can also use the information to negotiate the pricing if the repairs are going to be costly.

As a new homeowner, you want your property to be safe and healthy. Damp can easily become an issue, which is why it is important to check for it on a regular basis.

About Rising Damp

As a homeowners’ greatest fear, rising damp can quickly take hold of a property. As well as damaging the home itself, it can also damage your finances. Although rising damp is easy to identify, you need to know what to look out for.

One of the most obvious signs of rising damp is stains and marks on the wall at the ground level rising up. Normally a metre high up the wall, this can appear on the plaster, paint, wallpaper, surrounding objects, and furniture.

If the rising damp gets into the plaster, it can easily crumble away from the wall and will feel like a paste substance when the water has intruded. Another sign to look out for is that your wallpaper will start to peel off and your skirting boards will decay.

When the water penetrates into your property you may also notice that your screws and nails are starting to rust. The smell of must will overpower your room and the sheer dampness of your walls will be obvious.

What is Lateral Damp?

As one of the main types of damp in a property, lateral damp looks similar to rising damp. However, it has a few significant features. Lateral damp intrudes into a property from the outside and can originate from various sources.

Lateral Damp is unsightly, costs a lot to repair and is one of the most important signs to look out for in your property before committing to a purchase price. You should be aware of dark, damp patches on your walls, ceilings and flooring materials. The woodwork will also show signs of mildew and the plaster will start to crack, making spores visible.

About Penetrating Damp

This form of damp can easily travel through your property from the outside in. The most visible place to find penetrating damp is from the outside of your property. When there is heavy rain, you will notice large damp patches on the external side of your property. These are signs you need to look out for when you are buying your property. If one wall is exposed to rain more than others, carry out a thorough check before committing to the property.

The ceiling and roof space can also be prone to suffering from penetrating damp. If you do notice significant exterior dampness, you will need to check how far that damp has travelled and whether it has developed into rising damp inside.

When you have repaired any damage, consider that you will need to apply further damp proofing treatments to avoid future damage.

Noticing Condensation

You should always be on the lookout for condensation in your property. Never dismiss this as being a feature of the property, because it isn’t. Whether you are buying an older building or a new build, condensation should never be accepted. It can easily develop into a much bigger problem in no time at all, costing you time and money.

Condensation can be the first sign of a more serious issue within your home. With an excessive amount in your home, it becomes easy to spot this. The first step you need to take is finding the exact location of where the moisture is coming from and how you can stop any leaks.

Look for black mould in stairways, ceilings, walls and window frames for potential signs of condensation. In house selling situations, sellers can often wipe down the marks so that you are not aware of condensation. As a result, don’t be afraid to take a professional damp expert with you to inspect and check out any hidden potential damage.

Get in Touch

To find out more simply give us a call on 01525 374406 and our team can make sure your home buying process goes smoothly.