Damp Patches

A Damp Proof Course (DPC) installation is a vital process for protecting your property from rising damp, a common issue in older buildings. The DPC is a barrier, typically made of a waterproof material, installed within the walls to prevent moisture from the ground rising up through the structure. This installation helps keep the interior dry, preventing damage to walls, flooring, and the overall structural integrity of the building. In the UK, a DPC is a legal requirement for new builds, and it’s an essential consideration for any renovation or refurbishment project in older homes.

At Property Repairs London, we specialise in Damp Proof Course installation and can help you safeguard your property against water damage. Our experienced team uses the latest methods and materials to ensure your DPC is effective, durable, and up to industry standards. Whether you have an existing DPC that needs replacement or you’re dealing with rising damp in a property without one, we provide tailored solutions to meet your needs. We ensure that every installation is completed professionally, minimising disruption to your home and providing long-lasting protection.

If you notice signs of rising damp, such as damp patches on walls, peeling paint, or a musty smell, it’s crucial to address the issue promptly with a professional DPC installation. Left untreated, damp can lead to further complications like mould growth, timber decay, and deterioration of brickwork.

At Property Repairs London, we take a comprehensive approach to damp proofing, ensuring that the installation of your DPC is the first step in a complete solution to protect your property from moisture and associated risks.

But Damp Proof Course, isn’t always the Solution 

There are various solutions to tackling damp.

Understanding the type and age of Building and the building fabric, is the key to finding location solutions to tackle the causes of damp.

Common causes of dampness –

Blocked rain water pipes, gully’s and drains are often the cause of damp and mouldy walls. If surface water and ground water cannot drain away the moisture will build and up and through capillary attraction, the porous building fabric will absorb the water/moisture and it will manifest itself in different ways, it’s always an unpleasant sight

• Blocked rain water and foul drains, leaking cold water mains – Labtech™ report: we chemically analysis samples of damp wall, we do this without damage and destruction. Our salts and nitrates analysis will confirm the presence of chlorine (mains cold water), rising damp, foul water drain and/or rain water.
• Leak on water mains – if you have an incoming potable mains water supply buried in concrete, please check your water meter if you have one. If your water continues to spin when no water is being used, you probably have a leak. Firstly check your wc cistern is not filling up, your washing machine or dishwasher are not on, cold water storage cistern and/or central heating feed and expansion cistern in the loft are not filling or leaking water via the overflow pipe. Also check the ball valve in the wc cistern is not leaking, most modern wc cisterns have an internal overflow, this means that if a ball valve inside the cistern is faulty and is leaking, it will leak/drip water into the inside of the wc bowl.
• Combination or System boilers – if the boiler is losing pressure, in the first instance, we recommend you get the boiler manufacturers engineer to inspect the boiler for leaks. Common boiler problems include faulty or defective pressure relief valves, faulty expansion vessels and cracked/split heat exchangers (normally these are tiny hairline cracks)

The basement which is unused, is constantly damp and often flooded, other contractors have been employed to address these issues, but to date without success

The main issue is that basement flats which are on the other side of the basement walls, all have constant damp patches.

Various different contractors have provided all sorts of ‘solutions’ to rectify these ongoing issues

1. Machine Gun the area and inject ‘damp proof cream’ – that didn’t work

2. Machine Gun the whole area, and inject ‘damp proof course additives’ – that didn’t work

3. Cut out a whole in the floor, install a sump pump and drain away the flooded water – whilst this stops the basement floor which is an unused storage room from being wet.

Our Solution was to install external French Drains and Tanking and Heritage plastering in and around the affected damp walls. This provided a long term solution – no more unhappy occupants with damp walls

York House London circa 1840

The basement which is unused, is constantly damp and often flooded, other contractors have been employed to address these issues, but to date without success

The main issue is that basement flats which are on the other side of the basement walls, all have constant damp patches.

Various different contractors have provided all sorts of ‘solutions’ to rectify these ongoing issues

1. Machine Gun the area and inject ‘damp proof cream’ – that didn’t work

2. Machine Gun the whole area, and inject ‘damp proof course additives’ – that didn’t work

3. Cut out a whole in the floor, install a sump pump and drain away the flooded water – whilst this stops the basement floor which is an unused storage room from being wet.

Our Solution was to install external French Drains and Tanking and Heritage plastering in and around the affected damp walls. This provided a long term solution – no more unhappy occupants with damp walls