Water will always follow the path of least resistance, and unfortunately what this means is that penetrating damp problems are caused primarily by defects with the exterior of the building itself. This could be anything from defective porous masonry or render, damage to the roof or rainwater goods to poor door and window pointing.

Cavity walls can also be affected by dampness.  When the cavity has been filled with insulation and the external leaf starts to deteriorate the damp can soak the cavity insulation and affect the interior of the property.

In most cases wear and tear, cracks and fabric defects are the culprits to blame. For example, if the dampness patch is found at guttering height, start by checking your downpipes and gutters for potential leaks. Accurate diagnosis is important before the correct repair specification can be decided as wrong diagnosis and repair specification will not solve the damp problem… and cost more by having to do the work twice. Visit our Penetrating Damp FAQ page to see all penetrating damp signs.

Damaged rainwater goods and porous render have lead to a penetrating damp problem. Once rainwater goods were repaired, our property specialists covered all external walls with a waterproofing membrane and by doing this prevented further water penetration to the living area during the natural drying out period. The whole area was then plastered and left ready for decoration.

Here is an additional case study illustrating a similar damp problem.