What damp proofing services do Skipton Builders offer? 

 

At Skipton Builders we offer all types of damp proofing. We offer our damp proofing services in the following areas:

• Damp proofing in Skipton

• Damp proofing in Barnoldswick

• Damp proofing in Harrogate

• Damp proofing in Colne

• Damp proofing in Earby

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What causes damp and rising damp? 

 

There are different types of damp that people experience in their homes and consequently there are different causal factors. The most common type of damp is rising damp, which comes from the ground and rises up through the wall. Rising damp is caused by water collecting around the bottom of the wall cavity and finding its way up to the plaster and once it has got here it will migrate through the plaster board up to around the 1m level.  

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How can you tell it is rising damp? 

Rising damp will only rise up to around 1m high, this is due to the capillary action of water which means it physically can't rise any further than this; therefore if you are seeing damp patches above the 1m line it is very unlikely to be rising damp. 

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What are the other causes of damp?

The other types of damp in the house can be caused by all sorts of other issues, including a room being below the water table and having ineffective damp proofing or a poor damp course installation or in older properties there may be no damp course at all in which case it would be very damp in the cellar or basement. Damp can also penetrate through damage to external walls and windows although this is unusual and would only be seen if there was very obvious damage or the windows or doors were clearly not working as they should. Another common cause of damp issues is the lack of or damage to pointing and flashings on the roof. Water will find its way through any gap in the barrier and work its way down into the house. This damp could appear anywhere, most likely in an upstairs bedroom but it could also track down an internal skin and appear on ground floor rooms. Finally another common cause of damp is cold spots, which are created through gaps in the cavity wall where heat easily escapes resulting in a significant temperature difference between the internal skin and the rest of the room and consequently condensation forms (where hot moist air hits a cool surface) and damp spots appear. Chimneys are an area where multiple issues can arise, sometimes they appear as if they are damp, which they could be but also there are often chemical reactions between what has been previously burnt and the surrounding plaster and brick which can show as discolouration, similar to that caused by damp. With all things like rising damp and discolouration, get an experienced builder to look at the issue, provide some advice on the remedial actions and a quote for the building work that is required. At Skipton Builders we undertake all aspects of remedial damp work and installations of damp courses and tanking of basements and cellars.         

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How do you treat damp and rising damp? 

To treat rising damp the only lasting solution is to start with removing the existing plaster which is already damp and damaged. Once this is removed a high grade silicon should be used to inject into the wall systematically around the area affected by rising damp. The silicon will spread between the block or brick work forming a water proof barrier prevent water from moving up. Then a thick waterproofing barrier is added to the wall often called tanking. This is a compound which will hold any water back from penetrating the new plaster. It is essential that the tanking is applied correctly as if there is any breach in the barrier there is a strong possibility that the water will find its way through. This is the one of the many reasons why you should always use a professional to repair any type of damp issues otherwise you the run the risk of it appearing after you've completed all of your hard work. Once the tanking has been applied then it can either be plaster boarded over or wet plastered depending on how level the wall is and how far it now protrudes. Please remember that skirting boards will have to be removed  to effectively treat the damp and due to the persistence of this type of damp they are likely to need replacing and to get the perfect finish you ideally want a joiner to do this part of the job. Another thing to note is because there is an extra layer to the after the treatment has been complete, things like carpets will need to be refit. If you are asking yourself 'How do I cure rising damp?' then the answer is give Skipton Builders a call and we will arrange to solve the issue with a cost effective, permanent solution. 

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Are you a damp proof specialist? 

Yes we have treated a number of damp issues for people, from tanking out basements to addressing rising damp on walls above ground level. If you are looking for a damp proofer in Skipton then think of Skipton Builders. 

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