A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Spot And Deal With Damp

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1. I live in a grade2 listed building which constantly has damp problems. The main problem is on the walls inside the recess of my windows(double glazed wood). Every morning the windows and walls are saturated with condensation regardless of whether the central heating has been on. Ive applied damp proof paint but this has not made any difference. Can anyone suggest a fix??

   Posted by Warren on 08/11/2009 10:03:10

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2. I have a problem with an isolated area of damp ive had a leak in my roof and the water has run down internally to a part of a wall ive had the leak repaired how do i get rid of the damp area that is left many thanks Paul

   Posted by Paul McArthur on 06/11/2009 11:19:13

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3. hi, iv just had a D P C done on my lounge wall , i had to remove 1 mtr high plaster from it so my damp proff guy could treat the brick , now thats done , he said i should put a damp proof plaster on it ,,,, is this browning and a multi finish, ?chris

   Posted by chris on 28/10/2009 09:11:41

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4. Hi, i have wet patches appearing mid wall, upstairs in my property, especially in my bathroom on a joint wall with nextdoor which is also a chimney breast, and a few yellow looking stains coming through the white paint in a bedroom (on the outside wall which is also a chimney breast). Is the bathroom one more likely to be condensation? Any help Matt

   Posted by matt b on 27/10/2009 14:15:38

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5. Hi, A few months ago I decided to have the paving renewed at the rear of my property. The builder I employed suggested covering the existing slabs, which were old and cracked, with new slabbing, thus cutting on costs, which I agreed to. The slabs have covered the bottom layer of damp proof course bricks around the rear of the property, but he said this would be all right. I have since been told by another builder that this could lead to problems with damp in the future. Is this correct?

   Posted by andy rhodes on 21/10/2009 16:12:50

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6. I have a white fur like substance forming on a small area of a newly plastered wall. When wiped off it appears like a white powder. Any thoughts?

   Posted by Barry on 11/10/2009 11:00:00

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7. hi i always suffered with damp in my bathroom the council sorted it out but i always seem to get the really horrible blackness around the al of my bath and my grout inbetween my tiles are all black aswell, my whole bathroom is just a total disgust, can any one please have any advice for me to freshen and tidy my bathroom up of all this sell and blackness. thankyou x

   Posted by XlovelyX on 07/10/2009 10:01:10

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8. i have a mark on the inside of my bath at the bottom its been there since i moved into my flat but i dont have a clue what it is or how to get rid of the mark and it covers most of the bath and i cant relax. any tips please ladies? x

   Posted by rach1991 on 25/09/2009 17:33:39

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9. Hi, I live in an end terrace property. There is clearly visible damp patches on the internal wall (gable end)about 1 to 1.5 metres high, quite wide spread. The wall has an inset fire place houseing a gas fire, which is flat on the inside (the walls are very thick (about 2ft or more). Also there is a built in cupboard to the side of the fire which is also suffering from damp on the inside. I am desparate to get it sorted but dont want to get ripped off by cowboys. Can you please advise me on my best course of action. Very much appreciated. Phil

   Posted by Phil Mackie on 21/09/2009 12:21:29

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10. Hi, i have had a damp patch on a outside wall its approx 1 metre above the skirting board. There is no damp above or below it, i have a deviding wall outside which is the same height as the damp patch,could this be my problem. My house is approx 80-100 yrs old and has no cavitys. I have also had to repair a rotten joist below where the damp is.

    Posted by george shipley on 21/09/2009 10:27:39

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11. Hi, I live in a ground floor flat and just recently the bath panel has started to rot. The flooring underneath the lino in the bathroom has started to 'sink' and when you stand right by the bath panel water leaks out from under the bath. The flooring under the lino can only be described as flooring grade chipboard???? I am extremely concerned about the extent of the damage and whether i actually have a small leak under the bath. Is it right for builders to use this type of flooring especially in a bathroom???

    Posted by D on 14/09/2009 18:29:28

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12. Hi, My family and i are living in a relatively new house, which was built into a hill. The 4th bedroom is located to the rear of our garage and happens to be the part of the house which is built into the ground. In one corner of this room i have discovered from the floor to 3/4 of the way up the wall we have dampness showing on the wall with a white residue growing at an alarming rate. Is this problem due to water getting into the cavity and is this a mould problem? I son was sleeping beside this and now has a chest infection, i am concerned this may be contributory of even the cause of the illness... Can you help?

    Posted by P on 07/09/2009 10:19:13

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13. Hi there, my family and I have been living in reneted accomodation since december 08, our home is a flat (ground floor) which is a new build. When we first moved in we had terrible problems with condensation on the windows and each morning i would wake up and have to dry all the windows and the window cill as there were small puddles of water on them. This continued for a while and we bought condensation catchers for each window but i didnt really notice any change. Id open the windows in the morning time and let the air circulate. Now this has resolved but im now finding damp - in the bathroom (which has no window so we cant close the door) and in ther hall, and the latest place was in our bedroom wardrobe. Its affected our clothes, linen and shoes. Im at my wits end, im not sure what to do now. Could you please help.

    Posted by sal on 03/09/2009 10:09:36

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14. Hi im having a milldew problem in one bedroom its spreading up a painted wall.How do i remove the black on the wall?

    Posted by olivia on 21/08/2009 17:00:47

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15. i hav a wet patch on my ceiling and behind some tiles around the window area, will this be from outside or a slow leak from upstairs??

    Posted by stan reid on 03/08/2009 14:44:51

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16. i recently removed my bath panel as there was a damp smell, and found the ground under my bath very damp infact it was wet with no leaks from the bath ! there is fungus growing under there too how do i get rid of it safely ( i have re-sealed the bath to solve the wetness)

    Posted by susan hayton on 13/06/2009 22:01:35

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17. I live in a semi, there is a large water stain on the adjoining wall inside a louvre door wardrobe. I don't have cavity wall insulation but they do, anything to do with this do you think? I had all guttering replaced a few years ago. I also have a badly leaking overflow pipe at the front of the house. many thanks

    Posted by jan king on 07/06/2009 19:23:59

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18. George - I want to open up my kitchen / dining and sitting rooms / garage as per your programmes and note that you use a 'wood' floor throughout. I would like to do the same - what product would you suggest?

    Posted by Val on 05/06/2009 17:24:40

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19. How can i get rid of mould on my bathroom walls.

    Posted by Janet on 05/06/2009 04:02:50

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20. As a possible remedy against condensation, a humidifier is mentioned. Surely this should be a dehumidifier?

    Posted by Pont on 25/05/2009 23:57:40

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21. I recently moved to the UK. Back in South Africa I worked as a project manager in the Architectural Design & Manufacturing Industry. George's TV show has given me the insight into the UK property development industry I so desperately needed. A big thank you to the Producers an to you too George. If ever you should feel you can do with a co-presenter please keep me in mind. I have the experience. Thank you. Best. D

    Posted by Deon on 22/05/2009 12:07:10

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22. Need a solution for 'carpet mite'(small white insect like). especially under bags or suitcases or shoe boxes.

    Posted by ashley on 11/04/2009 11:16:11

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23. we live in a terraced house mid way in a row, we had the chimney breast removed 20yrs ago down stairs only, we have noticed damp patche worst point at the skirting board and then rising up to about 4ft in height and then runs horizonatal for about 3ft, The plaster at the top since we have taken wall paper off is trying out - the bottom still fells damp? what is the best course of action?

    Posted by Linda Kehoe on 29/03/2009 12:26:21

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24. I am having oak framed patio doors fitted to my house and am looking for a good protector for these. Ideally I want something which will keep the natural colour of the oak and not make it look yellower. Also I have heard that some new products last much longer. Any advice?

    Posted by CAROLE on 27/02/2009 10:46:21

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25. i have black mould in my bedroom i have no idea how to get rid of it ive tried bleach and soapy water but it not working any ideas?

    Posted by lucy on 23/02/2009 16:50:39

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26. I have dampness on the back wall of my house in one corner,i went under the house to check for moisture and came across white salt around the four walls of the house about three bricks up,the house was cavity wall insulated about five years ago,could this have anything to do with it?, what is that and how do i fix these issues.The white salt is no where near in height to the floor of the house,can you help me track whats going on. Thanks.

    Posted by gordon storie on 13/02/2009 23:56:29

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27. hi I had new window fitted upvc and have lot of damp on the wallpaper anyone can help please how to remove it is black

    Posted by kat on 26/01/2009 18:46:21

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28. we live on the end house but attached other side and we had the un-attached wall installated last jan and october just gone we noticed a damp patch behined the bed so we moved the bed after that we noticed our wardrobe start to smell and found black spots on the wall behined our clothes and they were also marked yellow anyway i thought might be single glazed windows are the problem so we clean every day but as time went on i knocked down wardrobe and found the whole wall was black and ts starting on the celling and its all the way down the 2 corners of the room.what do we do to resolve this as it smells and horrible to look at?

    Posted by steve anderson on 23/01/2009 18:42:41

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29. I live in a terrace house over 100 years old and on all the outside walls upstairs and downstairs the walls are wet and have black on them, even though we have decorated and put PVA on the walls the blackness is showing through again. The windows steam up alot and have water collecting on the windowledge. The damp proof coarse was done approximately 9 years ago. We want to decorate again but need to solve this problem first.

    Posted by Julie Ellis on 15/01/2009 21:39:05

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30. we live on the end house but are attached ,my daughters wall under her window and the end wall is wet through and in our bedroom the wall connected to next to next door half way up is wet ,but is covered by fitted wardrobes,could anyone advise us or help

    Posted by stewart court on 15/01/2009 14:27:48

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31. There seems to be a damp patch coming throug my wall near the ceiling. I think this is from a faulty gutter. Is the best way to chizel out the plaster etc to the brick, dry and re plaster. If not can you please advise. Many thanks Andy

    Posted by Andy Ross on 31/12/2008 15:06:55

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32. iHave Mold Comeing On The Walls Back Of The Bed And Back Of The Wardrobs All Are outside Walls Can You Help Thank You

    Posted by mr hoggarth on 28/12/2008 15:59:07

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33. how can i stop this condensation? I do open the windows every day, but its still happing why?

    Posted by jane on 24/11/2008 22:27:43

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34. how can i stop this condensation? I do open the windows every day, but its still happing why?

    Posted by jane on 24/11/2008 22:21:43

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35. How can I remove and then prevent mould from around windows on wallpaper, upvc windows, sealant and plaster. we have windows on outer lock for ventilation even in winter.

    Posted by fizzog on 13/11/2008 12:17:42

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36. You seem to advise that installing a dpc is the only way with any building re rising damp. I refer you to the SPAB website regarding old buildings. Check out the technical Q&As. Often damp in old buildings is cause by inappropriate use of modern materials affecting the performance of the building. Just because a building has no DPC, it does not follow that there will be problems with damp. If you have damp, understand the cause and deal with it, not just the symptons. Link is http://www.spab.org.uk/html/advice/technical-qas/?PHPSESSID=ca1bf868967919cf868dbc1ace7a33a2

    Posted by Greg on 23/10/2008 13:49:18

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37. can dampness be caused by problems originating from your next door neighbour?

    Posted by Ivy Lim on 10/10/2008 17:33:04

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