The Danger of Penetrating Damp & What To Do About It

Penetrating damp can be caused by many factors but the most common issue is the ground level of your property being lower than that of neighbouring properties or the outside ground levels.

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Other causes include porous bricks, spalled brickwork and degrading mortar joints. Another reason penetrating damp exists is building defects including poorly fitted windows, defective guttering and down pipes.

It can occur at all levels of a building but is more prevalent higher up. It is possible for damp to move within walls but this horizontal movement differs from the vertical movement of rising damp.

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Treatment

When penetrating damp has appeared internally due to a difference in ground levels, we would treat the walls with a process called tanking.

Tanking is applied internally and is part of rising damp treatment.

Tanking is a material that will be applied directly to the internal brickwork and acts as a barrier between the damp wall and the new plaster therefore keeping the dry.

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The tanking process is also used to convert old cellars into newer, more practical rooms to add value to the property. If you’re interested in cellar conversions we advise having an in-depth consultation so you fully understand what can be a lengthy process.

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If penetrating damp is evident yet there is no difference in ground level, we offer one of two solutions.

If the brickwork is of a poor quality we can apply an insulating render to the exterior of the property. We have a wide range of colours with an attractive textured finish.
If the brickwork meets standards we can apply a revolutionary new product called SecoTherm to the external wall. This prevents brickwork rain penetration but the chemical structure allows moisture in the wall to evaporate.

Both SecoTherm products are recognised as insulating products which can reduce your energy bills by on average 30%.

Because these products are regarded as insulating products the VAT on them is only charged at 5%.