Penetrating Damp

Penetrating damp is water finding its way in from outside — through failed pointing, cracked render, porous brick, a leaking gutter or a defective seal. It shows as damp patches that get worse after heavy rain. As penetrating damp specialists we trace it back to the actual source and fix that, rather than just covering the stain.

Signs to look for

• Damp patches that appear or worsen after heavy rain
• Patches on external-facing walls or around windows
• Watermarks on ceilings below the roofline or a flat roof
• Crumbling or 'spongy' external pointing and render
• Peeling paint or wallpaper on the inside face of a wall

What causes it

On South Manchester's exposed, solid-wall terraces the usual culprits are eroded lime pointing, blown or cracked render, overflowing or leaking gutters, failed window and door seals, and bridged cavities. Because water can travel sideways and downwards inside the wall, the damp patch indoors is often nowhere near where the water is actually getting in — which is exactly why specialist diagnosis matters.

How we treat it

We fix the defect at source: repointing and render repairs, clearing or replacing guttering, resealing around openings, and applying breathable water-repellent treatments or cavity repairs where needed. Then we dry out and make good the inside wall. Everything is explained up front with a fixed-price quote and our up-to-10-year guarantee.

• External repointing & render
• Cavity wall treatment
• Source traced, not just covered up