Top Damp Inspection Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

When we think about threats to our homes, we often think about salient dangers like fires and burglaries. The silent threat of damp does not come so easily to mind, yet it can have serious consequences. It can compromise the structural integrity of your property and lead to health issues. Knowing how to spot it early and put a stop to it keeps you safe and can save thousands in repair costs. Here’s how to do it.

Know the Types of Damp

Before you start inspecting your home, it is important to understand that there are several different types of damp. Familiarising yourself with them will help you interpret any signs of damp you find during your inspection, and it can help you recognise what your property is most at risk from. The common types you should know are rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation.

Rising damp comes from groundwater and moves up through walls and floors. Penetrating damp occurs when water from outside seeps into a building, usually through cracks or holes in the exterior, and condensation is caused when the moisture in humid air comes into contact with a cold surface.

Start with a Visual Inspection

There are usually visual signs of damp, although they can be subtle at first. That’s why it is important to systematically inspect each room in your house, taking care to move furniture so you can check all the walls, floors, and ceilings. Although damp can show up as wet walls in the house, you should also note any discolouration, peeling, flaking, sagging, or bubbling you find. Salt deposits and rotten wooden fixtures can also be signs of damp.

Check Outside

Even if there are no signs of damp inside your house, take a look outside for any points where water could enter. Cracks in the walls, deteriorating mortar, and gaps around windows and doors can all let water in. If you spot any, get them fixed right away. This is a great way of preventing penetrating damp.

Pay Special Attention to Basements

Below-ground areas like basements and crawl spaces are more prone to damp issues, which is why proper basement waterproofing is so important. There are various ways to waterproof these spaces, but they can deteriorate over time. Regularly inspecting them can help you spot problems early, potentially saving you a lot of money because damp problems around your home’s foundations can easily turn into difficult structural issues.

Document What You Find

Smartphones make this so easy today, yet many people overlook it. Take photos and make notes about anything unusual you find. This means that you can monitor changes over time, and if you need to consult a professional later on, it gives them more information to work with.

Regularly inspecting your home can help you find and treat damp while it is still manageable, but there are limits to DIY inspections. If you can feel or smell damp but not see it, or if the type of damp you find is unclear, it is best to consult an expert with better tools. Reach out to London Damp Proofing Ltd on 0208 226 6330 to schedule a professional damp survey today.