Penetrating damp solutions

How can you recognise penetrating damp in the house?

Recognising penetrating damp is not always an easy task. This is mainly because this type of damp problem can occur in places in the house that are difficult to reach. Places where you don’t usually go and where the damp problem can damage the house unnoticed. Any type of damp can be recognised mainly by the musty smell in the house, it is not always easily visible. In order to find out where the penetrating damp is, it is important to inspect the outside wall for damp spots or discolouration. If there are holes or cracks in the wall, these are usually the main causes of damp penetrating into the inner wall.

Cause 1: Porous facades

A main cause of penetrating damp is a porous (permeable) facade. The facade is naturally porous and consists of bricks and brickwork. A wall must be able to breathe, so it is normal for the outer wall to be porous. When there is a long period of precipitation in the United Kingdom, the wall is filled with damp (due to rainwater). When the sun shines again, the wall dries up quickly. But is the outside wall in the shade, is the wall full of vegetation or is it outdated, with hardly any maintenance? If so, there is a good chance that the wall will not be able to dry sufficiently and that will result in penetrating damp.

Cause 2: Damaged exterior walls

Damaged walls can also allow damp to penetrate easily from the outside to the inside. Cracks and holes in the brickwork are weak spots that cause damp to permeate into the house. At first, there can be small cracks in the outside wall, but because of the damp, these can become bigger and bigger, which makes the damp problem even worse. Damaged outer walls therefore need to be repaired quickly; this is especially the case with old houses.

Cause 3: Paint layers and plasters

On the one hand, layers of impermeable paint and plaster are used to protect a wall against damp from the outside; on the other hand, they can ensure that a wall remains damp and cannot dry properly as they block the walls ability to breathe, and as a result the walls do not dry (or dry less quickly). The protective effect of the layers of paint and plaster is counterproductive.

Cause 4: A broken roof gutter

Another cause of penetrating damp can be a broken gutter. There may even just be a problem with the connection between the gutter and the fall pipe which in turn causes leaks. If you notice a damp problem in the house with noticeable damp spots at the level of the leaves, then it is certainly worth checking the gutters. A dirty gutter can also cause damp to penetrate the house.

Cause 5: Cracks around windows and frames

There can also be cracks and weak spots around windows and window frames, these weak spots cause water to penetrate from outside to inside. The same goes for missing sills around doors and windows. It is often quite a task to discover the exact cause of leakage of damp in the house. In most cases it is a combination of several factors. In addition, damp damage can occur in several places in the house and can usually be traced back to just one cause.

4 methods to treat penetrating damp

There are various methods to treat penetrating damp in the walls of a house. This damp problem can mainly be solved by treating the outside wall of the house. This can be done by rendering the walls, by using damp-resistant paint that can be applied or you can opt for a new cladding. However, these are only temporary solutions, as they may stop the water from continuing to come into the property, but they do not expel the water that is already in the wall. You can also choose to have SmartDry DryBricks installed, these will dry out your walls and can also solve other damp problems, such as rising damp. The most ideal time to treat penetrating damp is during summer. It’s during this time, due to the heat and drought, that the walls are reasonably dried out. Below we summarise different solutions for penetrating damp.

Method 1: Rendering the walls of the house

When rendering the outer walls, a protective layer is applied to the outer wall. By means of this solution you can avoid or counteract penetrating damp. Another advantage of rendering is that dirt is less likely to get stuck on the wall, so you don’t have to clean the facade as often. If you want to render the wall of the house, it must first be thoroughly cleaned. This ensures that the rendering agent adheres better to the surface. If the wall has a number of cracks or fissures, these first need to be repaired before you can start rendering. Be careful with this method, if your walls are damp, rendering the wall can trap water into the walls, creating a bigger problem later on.

Method 2: Damp-proof paint on the exterior wall

Nowadays there are types of paint that are specially made to protect the facade from damp. By painting the outside walls you can give the house a fresh look or a different colour. With this solution it is also important that the wall is cleaned well in advance. Then the damp-resistant paint can adhere better to the outside wall. This solution is also a preventative measure to prevent damp from penetrating, but again, can trap damp that is already present in the walls.

Method 3: New cladding for your home?

When the status of the outer wall (and eventually the inner wall) has deteriorated considerably and when there is regular damp or damp penetrating into the house, you can always opt for a new (and waterproof) wall cladding. This is of course a solution with a nice price tag, but still offers several advantages. Your house will look like new again and it is also possible to immediately insulate the outside walls; yet again you may come across the already existing problem of water in the walls- if the water is not removed, then it can become a problem later on.

Method 4: SmartDry DryBricks

If you really want to go for a permanent solution against penetrating damp in the house, then choose SmartDry and their patented DryBricks. These wall elements create a sustainable air circulation system that allows natural ventilation in the home. The DryBricks ensure that damp is extracted from the walls of the house 24/7, thanks to natural air currents, and it does not make use of external energy sources. This solution actively removes the water within the walls, so matching this solution with repairing the exterior wall or guttering will resolve your damp issues for life.

What does it cost to treat penetrating damp?

When considering the cost of the SmartDry DryBricks, the costs per linear metre vary per wall type. For example, for a single solid brick wall, the DryBricks costs £96,- (excl. VAT) per linear metre. For a brick wall with an additional wall or cavity wall, the price per linear metre is £118,- (excl. VAT). If a wall is made of natural stone, the price per linear metre is £128,- (excl. VAT). If you would like to find out for yourself what the costs are for the permanent solution against damp, you can find more about the costs on the pricing page. SmartDry’s DryBricks are very effective and the solution is permanent. Dont get sucked into contracting services that only solve the effects or symptoms of damp, as this must be completed on a regular basis, which, in the long run, makes it more expensive. SmartDry’s solution is permanent, environmentally friendly and guaranteed to work.

Can you fight penetrating damp yourself?

It sounds ideal and very attractive to tackle this damp problem in the walls yourself, but in order to avoid additional costs, it is wise to get advice from an expert in the field of damp control. SmartDry will gladly visit you, for free, to try to find a solution to the problem together.

The DryBrick – The solution for penetrating damp

As mentioned before, having the DryBricks installed is the best solution against penetrating damp. It is a highly innovative and patented solution to combat damp; this damp solution is permanent and durable. With elementary physics, the damp is permanently removed from the wall and the indoor climate of the house is improved. Each DryBrick can remove up to 266 cubic centimetres of water every 24 hours. The DryBricks work without the help of external energy, which makes it the most durable and efficient treatment against damp problems in the home. The DryBricks have a very long lifespan and are also a very interesting solution in terms of cost. Do you suffer from damp walls? Then the DryBricks will dry out the walls and make sure they stay dry. In fact, the DryBricks are so durable that you never have to replace them.

Let SmartDry fight your penetrating damp

Do you want to know if there’s any damp in the walls of your house? Then book a free damp survey. We will be happy to help you solve the damp problem in your home. For many years now, we have been specialising in treating damp problems. We solve damp problems in and around the house and have already made thousands of homes damp-free. Feel free to contact us by phone or have one of our damp control specialists check your home for damp.