Causes and types of dampness
There are different types of damp. Work out what it's caused by and which type it is to help you treat the problem in the right way.
- Condensation (most common) – moisture in the air
- Penetrating dampness – rain getting in through gaps in the brickwork, roof, window frames, and around doors
- Rising damp – affects basements and ground floor rooms, the signs include decayed skirting boards and floors, stained plaster and peeling paint and wallpaper.
- Defective plumbing – defects in guttering and pipes, cracked rendering, leaking water pipes, waste pipes and overflows
Most homes will be affected by dampness at some point. You can do a lot to reduce and prevent dampness.
If you rent your home you should let your landlord know about any dampness in the property.