Penetrating Damp & Condensation in Stratford-upon-Avon

Not all damp comes up from the ground. Penetrating damp comes through the wall from outside, and condensation forms from moisture in the air — and both are regularly mistaken for rising damp and treated the wrong way. We connect you with a local specialist who finds the real cause and fixes that.

Penetrating damp

Penetrating damp is caused by a defect letting water through the wall — a failed gutter or downpipe, cracked render, failed pointing, or a leaking roof. Because it can appear anywhere on a wall, not just near the floor, it is often confused with rising damp. The fix is to repair the external cause; treating the inside of the wall achieves nothing while water is still getting in.

Condensation

Condensation is the most common damp problem of all, showing as black mould in corners, on cold walls and around windows. It is about moisture in the air, ventilation and heating rather than the structure — and it is usually the cheapest to resolve, through improved ventilation and simple measures rather than major works.

What the service includes

• A survey to trace where the water or moisture is actually coming from
• Repair of external defects causing penetrating damp
• Practical advice and measures for condensation and ventilation
• Drying and making good internally once the cause is fixed
• A written report explaining the cause and the fix

Local knowledge

Stratford-upon-Avon has a wealth of timber-framed, Georgian and Victorian property, much of it in conservation areas near the Avon. Solid-wall and timber-framed buildings like these behave very differently from modern cavity construction and need breathable, sympathetic damp treatment rather than aggressive sealing.