Repairs & finishes
External damp-related repairs
Repairs to the external fabric that address the source of moisture entry.
What the issue is
Many internal damp problems are resolved by repairing external defects such as rainwater goods, pointing, render, sills and ground levels.
Common symptoms
- Damp appearing after rainfall
- Staining on external walls
- Overflowing gutters
- Cracked render or missing pointing
- Ground levels above internal floor level
Likely contributing factors
- Blocked or defective gutters and downpipes
- Failed pointing or render
- Defective sills and seals
- Raised paving or soil against walls
Conditions that may be mistaken for it
- Condensation misread as penetrating damp
- Internal plumbing leaks
How the issue should be investigated
- External elevation inspection
- Assessment of rainwater goods and ground levels
- Correlating internal damp with external features
- Photographic recording of defects
Potential treatment or repair options
- Gutter and downpipe repair or replacement
- Repointing and render repairs
- Sill and seal repairs
- Lowering ground levels and improving drainage
- Applying suitable protective treatments where justified
When treatment may not be appropriate
- Where the defect is cosmetic and not causing damp
- Where internal work is proposed instead of fixing the source
Factors affecting the cost
- Access requirements and working height
- Extent and type of repair
- Matching existing materials
- Waste removal
What to expect during an inspection
An external inspection with photographs, correlated with internal damp locations.
Final recommendations always depend on the property, the inspection findings and the confirmed cause. Elevated readings alone do not confirm rising damp, not every mould problem requires extensive treatment, and damp-affected plaster does not always need replacing.
Frequently asked questions
Next step
Not sure which inspection you need? Start with a few questions.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will set out what is likely, what is uncertain and which inspection would answer the question. Speak to us on 0333 335 6152 if you would rather talk it through.