Damp Investigation

Persistent damp problems (some of which are clearly visible as damp patches) in this attractive Georgian house were investigated and diagnosed by us as mainly due to the impermeable cement rendering which had been applied throughout when it was restored after lying neglected for some years. The lack of a protective paint coating and high water table had also contributed to saturating the structure, bringing the risk of wood rot and moulds, as well as disfiguring damp patches. The solution we proposed involved stripping and re-rendering with lime mortar to allow the walls to dry out naturally, and improving drainage.

Increased rainfall and the risk of flooding due to climate change, as much as the use of inappropriate modern materials, are placing many older properties like this at risk. The use of traditional materials and approaches is usually more economic and effective in the long term than costly proprietary sealants and damp proofing.