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What are the main signs of damp in your home?

What are the main signs of damp in your home?

by | Jun 27, 2025

Have you noticed a pungent, mushroomy smell wafting through your home? Are mould or stains forming on your walls or ceilings?

If the answer is yes, then you’re likely to be witnessing the first signs of condensation in your home.

Homeowners should be aware of the damage that condensation and damp can cause, and act fast to have it removed.

In this article, we identify the main signs of condensation and damp to watch out for, before explaining how you can treat damp in your home.

What Are the Main Signs of Damp?

Musty smells, visible moisture staining, rotting timbers and growths of mould are all visible signs of Condensation in your home.

But there are many more signs that may go unnoticed and only become apparent after a thorough inspection of the premises.

If you’ve noticed any of the following signs of damp or condensation, it’s time to call in a professional for a closer look:

  • Pungent, mushroom-like smells
  • Mouldy patches
  • Damp patches
  • Rotting timbers and woodwork
  • Salty tide marks on the walls
  • Cold or wet ceilings, walls or floors
  • Peeling plasterboard or wallpaper
  • Water droplets clinging to walls
  • Damaged or crumbling masonry
  • Leaks, broken pipes or damaged drains

What Problems Can Damp Leave You With?

Damp can damage your home, cause health problems, and lead to serious structural issues if left untreated. Major problems caused by damp include:

  • Damaged decoration and furnishings
  • Health issues, such as coughing, asthma and other respiratory problems
  • Rotten timbers and weakened structural supports
  • Weakened brickwork and masonry
  • The need for costly repairs

How Can You Treat Damp and condensation in Your Home?

If you spot any of the main signs of damp and condensation in your home, it’s important to schedule a professional damp survey immediately. A survey is the first step towards treating damp, and the surveyor will identify the cause, source and type of damp afflicting your home before recommending the best fix.

The exact treatment will depend on the type of damp, the extent of the damp problem and where it’s located, but common fixes include:

  • Install ventilation systems
  • Injecting a chemical damp proof course
  • Repairing or replacing damaged brickwork and rotten timbers
  • Replastering walls with damp-proof materials
  • Lowering the external ground level of a building so it’s below the damp-proof course

How Can You Protect Your Home From Damp and condensation?

There are several ways to protect your home from damp in the future, the majority of which involve removing opportunities for moisture to enter your home and allowing moisture laden air to escape your home too. Common methods include:

  • Ensuring all pipes and gutters are fixed and clear of debris
  • Keeping your home well ventilated
  • installing ventilation systems
  • Injecting a damp-proof course into the walls

Contact Atlantis Property Preservation is to Find Out More about the Main Signs of Damp and Condensation

If you’re worried about damp in your home, Atlantis Property Preservation is here to help. Our highly qualified team of experts can advise you on the main signs of damp and carry out a professional survey to identify its source.

For more information or to book your damp survey, contact the friendly team at Atlantis Property Preservation today.

What is the cost of Damp Proofing?

What is the cost of Damp Proofing?

by | Jun 15, 2025

We often get asked about the cost of damp proofing. If you want to keep your home moisture free, then a damp-proof course is vital of that. A damp-proof course is an effective way to stop water from entering a property from the earth, and it helps protect your home against moisture damage that causes decorative spoiling.

But how much does a damp-proof course cost to install? You can trust the expert team at Atlantis Property Preservation to explain everything you need to know.

What Is a Damp-Proof Course?

A damp-proof course, or DPC, is designed to form a protective, waterproof barrier that stops moisture from seeping into your home. Damp-proof courses create an impervious barrier that makes it impossible to dampness to rise up the walls. They are commonly made from impermeable materials, and they are typically installed in the mortar bed below the internal floor level to protect against rising water.

There are several types of damp-proof courses available, each of which has different associated costs. The most common DPCs include:

  • Chemical damp-proof course injections
  • Mortar damp proof-course injections
  • Electroosmotic damp-proof courses

Why Do You Need a Damp-Proof Course?

A damp-proof course is a vital protective measure that may stop your home from suffering damage from damp. Furthermore. here are the most important reasons to ensure you have a damp-proof course installed:

  • Keeps your home protected against rising damp
  • Prevents problems that arise from dampness, including wet rot and mould
  • Helps you to avoid health problems, such as respiratory illnesses, that may certainly arise due to black toxic mould spores associated with condensation. Therefore black mould is likely to form on the coldest walls in your home, and damp walls are naturally colder than dry walls, which makes black mould more likely in a damp home.
  • Increases the value of your property over time
  • Saves you money in the long-term, as you avoid paying for costly repairs.

What is the cost of Damp Proofing?

The cost of a damp-proof course varies from one property to the next. Major costs will include the materials and labour, so the size of the property and the type of DPC being installed will affect the overall price.

The major factors that affect the cost of damp proofing course include:

  • The size of the area that requires damp-proofing within your property
  • The time that’s needed for the work to be carried out
  • The type of DPC you’re going to have installed
  • Additional survey, damp-proofing or repair work to your property

Additionally, if damp has already taken hold in your property, you may also need to factor in other costs in order to fix and remove the damp problem before a new DPC can be installed. For an accurate estimation, it’s essential that you have a consultation with a damp-proofing specialist and have a detailed survey undertaken.

What Is Included in the Cost of a Damp-Proof Course?

With a professional company such as Atlantis Property Preservation, the cost of a damp-proof course may include the following:

  • Pre-installation survey, with any upfront survey cost deducted from the invoice of any required works.
  • Installation of the damp proof-course
  • Replastering or membrane installation
  • Tanking solutions to cater for any shortfall
  • Solutions to solve penetrating damp
  • Solutions to solve condensation issues
  • Clean up and removal of waste materials
  • Warranty

Contact Atlantis Property Preservation for more information and arrange for our expert team to visit your home.

Atlantis Property Preservation’s experienced team of damp-proofing specialists will ensure that your property is fully protected.

Contact our friendly staff today to find out how we can damp-proof your home.

How to Get Rid of Condensation Inside Windows

How to Get Rid of Condensation Inside Windows

by | Jun 13, 2025

Although mild in appearance, condensation can wreak as much havoc on a home as other forms of damp, if left untreated. This is especially the case when found in and around windows. In this article, we’ll examine how condensation occurs and how to get rid of condensation inside windows.

What Is Condensation?

Before delving into how to get rid of condensation inside windows, it’s helpful to explain what condensation is and why it poses a serious threat to your property. Condensation is the process whereby water vapour makes contact with a cold surface and becomes liquid. This can appear as water droplets, pools of liquid water or a layer of dew on or around those surfaces. Aside from being a frustrating task to wipe away, condensation can have serious consequences in the form of mildew and black mould. These can bring damage to walls and furnishings, and spark breathing problems from inhaling mould spores. 

Why Does Condensation Happen?

Day-to-day activities such as cooking, drying clothes indoors, and bathing increase the amount of water vapour inside a building. When that moisture cannot escape and temperatures decrease, the vapour will condense to liquid water on cold surfaces. This occurrence is especially prevalent during winter when activities are primarily done inside. At the same time, temperatures fluctuate due to heating going on and off, and plummeting temperatures outside. 

How to Get Rid of Condensation Inside Your Windows

If your home suffers from condensation, it has likely made an appearance inside your windows. Typically, condensed water found inside double-glazed windows suggests that the seals around the window are damaged. Hiring a professional to replace the damaged seals will prevent further harm by condensation. However, when researching how to get rid of condensation inside your windows, ventilation and dehumidification are also useful methods. Opening windows, using ceiling fans or installing air vents to help moist air circulate can all help with ventilation. Investing in a dehumidifier will also remove water vapour, so that condensation can’t happen. 

How to Prevent Condensation on Your Windows

Condensation is the result of simple daily actions. Similarly, preventing condensation can be achieved by simple actions. Solutions such as opening windows and rearranging houseplants seem small, yet demonstrate significant results when considering how to get rid of

condensation inside windows

Much like ceiling fans, extractor fans are useful in reducing moist air and preventing condensation. When installed in rooms that produce the most water vapour, for example kitchens and bathrooms, fans will siphon the moist air outside.  Dehumidifiers are excellent tools to reduce moisture, although a certain amount of humidity is required in a property, generally around 30–50%. If you want to reduce condensation yet retain a healthy level of humidity, consider putting your dehumidifier on a lower setting.  As unconventional as it sounds, the houseplants placed around your home can help to prevent condensation; the key is to use plants that absorb moist air. Aside from preventing condensation this can also improve overall air quality.  Condensation is not only a consequence of moist air indoors, but also temperature fluctuations. Therefore, maintaining a low and consistent temperature for longer rather than changing the temperature for short periods of time will ensure a constant heat where condensation cannot form on surfaces. 

Contact Atlantis Property Preservation

At Atlantis Property Preservation, our team of experts are on standby to help you to find the most suitable treatment for how to get rid of condensation inside windows. 

How to Prevent Condensation in your home

How to Prevent Condensation in your home

by | Jun 10, 2025

Condensation on windows is a regular sight throughout the year. Condensation is the most common form of damp that properties can suffer from. Luckily, it’s also possible to prevent condensation.

If you’re worried about condensation in your home, we’re here to explain its causes and how to prevent it.

What Causes Condensation in your home?

Condensation forms when hot, moist air hits a colder surface like a windowpane or an external wall. Warm air naturally holds water droplets in the form of moisture, and when warm air cools down or collides with cold surfaces, the moisture condenses into water droplets, causing condensation.

You’ll typically see condensation on windows when the moisture content of the air is heavy. Condensation can also lead to black mould growth, particularly where air flow is stagnant.

Moisture is generated in the home due to the way we live. This can happen when you have a hot shower, put the kettle or dry washing on a radiator.

Condensation is even more likely to form during the winter when there are more colder surfaces in your home. Lower temperatures mean the air can hold less moisture, and when you’re more likely to have the heating on high.

Why is It Important to Reduce Condensation in your home?

Small amounts of condensation in your home might seem harmless, but there are several important reasons to resolve the issue. It’s important to remember that condensation is a form of damp; it can still cause damage to your home and lead to health problems.

For all of the reasons below, it’s important to reduce condensation in your home:

  • Leads to the growth of damp and mould patches in your home
  • Causes musty, odorous, lingering smells
  • Damages wallpaper, plastering, decor and furniture
  • Can create the conditions for wet and dry rot
  • May cause respiratory problems and other illnesses

How to Prevent Condensation in your home

Luckily, there are several key methods that can help to prevent condensation in your home.

Effectively, you either need to either increase ventilation or warm up the surfaces, remove opportunities for dew point to be reached on cold surfaces. For mild problems, it can even be as simple as opening the back door when you’re cooking, or switching on the extractor fan when you’re having a hot shower.

Key prevention techniques include:

  • Improving ventilation throughout your home
  • Opening windows and doors
  • Making use of extractor fans
  • Installing dehumidifiers
  • Improving the insulation in your home
  • Running the heating at a minimum of 16 degrees during winter

How Can Atlantis Property Preservation Help Prevent Condensation in your home?

Atlantis Property Preservation is here to help treat condensation problems in your home. If you’re concerned about the level of condensation appearing in your home, our specialist technicians can undertake a damp survey to uncover the cause of the problems.

We’ll investigate the source of the condensation and check for signs of any other types of damp, such as rising or penetrating damp. We’ll then provide you with a detailed breakdown of the problem, and solutions to treat it.

Our team may recommend a thorough ventilation plan for your home, which may include the installation of specialist ventilation systems that keep condensation to a minimum.

Contact Atlantis Property Preservation for More Information about Condensation.

Atlantis Property Preservation’s experienced team of specialists will reduce the risk of condensation in your home.

Contact our friendly staff today to find out how we can help you.

Everything you need to know about subfloor ventilation

Everything you need to know about subfloor ventilation

by | Jun 8, 2025

Homeowners are often house proud and with good reason. 

Buying a house is a huge investment, and not to be taken lightly. 

Unfortunately, at times even the best constructed properties can experience moisture entering via the subfloor. This could be condensation or other types of damp affecting your living space.

Some tell-tale signs that you have a moisture problem is a stale musty smell entering your home. You may also see sign of damp in your home. These may include mould growing and peeling wallpaper at your wall to floor junction.

If that’s an issue, it would be prudent to invest in subfloor ventilation. This will help combat the impact of damp and safeguard the health of both the building and your family.

What is subfloor ventilation?

As explained in The Spruce, ‘a subfloor is a solid base underneath your floor covering that you depend on for the stability of a room’s floors and walls.’ 

In your home this space that’s generally dark and can become damp. This can lead to potential damage to your home and health risks to your family. 

Subfloor ventilation is a remedy for these risks and has been likened to ‘opening a window and forcing fresh, cool, and clean air through your house and out the other side.’

Just as your walls and floor work together to create a structurally sound system, so too subfloor ventilation creates a system that draws out the damp, stale air from your home and circulates fresh air under your floor. 

These two aspects of subfloor ventilation can restore the right balance of moisture in your subfloor, thus treating the cause of damp-related damage. 

Does a subfloor need ventilation?

Unfortunately, at times it’s the signs that damage has already been done that lets us know a subfloor needs ventilation. 

Squeaking floorboards or rotting floor timbers are likely to indicate inadequate sub floor ventilation.

All suspended floors need sub floor ventilation. Concrete infills of part of your ground floor reduce ventilation. So do high external ground levels, sometimes blocking original ventilation. Furthermore, your home may have decorative vents, which are inefficient. 

These signs are not just unpleasant; they can also be a hazard to your health. Stale and damp air are perfect conditions for wet and dry rot and wood boring beetles.

On a human level, excessive moisture can exacerbate symptoms of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Certainly not what you would like to expose your loved ones to. 

For your home itself, moisture in a building from the subfloor can lead to rotting timber. Word worm may also be present. This can compromise the structure and safety of your home. 

Without adequate subfloor ventilation, these issues can lead to warped floors, damp and ruined carpets, health-compromising odours and mould growth and costly damage. 

How does subfloor ventilation work? 

A subfloor can be ventilated by placing vents on the external opposing walls in the subfloor of your home. 

Subfloor ventilation systems generally include vents that work to extract stale, damp air and circulate fresh, dry air into the subfloor. 

Depending on the area, ducting may be required to distribute the air. As the air is now able to circulate, it restores the correct moisture balance in the subfloor.

What are the requirements for subfloor ventilation in the UK?

BS 525 Management of Moisture in Buildings states that 4.4 ‘Floors next to the ground and floors exposed from below should be designed and constructed so that their structural and thermal performance are not adversely affected by interstitial condensation.’

As a result, UK building regulations stipulate the requirements for subfloor ventilation in the UK.

Which is as follows:

  • Two opposing external walls should have ventilation openings placed so that the ventilated air will have a free path between opposite sides and to all sides
  • The openings should not be less than either 1,500 mm2/m run of external wall or 500 mm2/m2 of floor area, whichever is the greater opening area
  • Any pipes needed to carry ventilated air should have a diameter of at least 100mm
  • Ventilated air space must be at least 75mm from the ground covering to any wall plates and at least 150mm to the underside of the suspended timber floor
  • Ventilation openings must incorporate suitable grills to prevent vermin entering the subfloor without causing a restriction in airflow

Benefits of installing subfloor ventilation

BS 525 Management of Moisture in Buildings states ‘Moisture in buildings is a significant cause of many building failures, including some building related occupant health problems.’ 

Subfloor ventilation offers a you peace of mind that your two most precious assets, your loved ones and your home, are protected from health issues and costly damage that could otherwise arise from moisture in your home. 

How much does it cost to install subfloor ventilation?

The cost of installing subfloor ventilation will depend on several factors including the size of the building and any ducting required, the choice of ventilation products, as well as any existing damage that may first need to be addressed. 

To find out more about costs of installing your subfloor ventilation contact the professional and experienced team at Atlantis Property to arrange a survey of your property’s unique needs and a quote to protect your home with subfloor ventilation.

Everything You Need to Know About Wall Ties

Everything You Need to Know About Wall Ties

by | Jun 2, 2025

Wall ties are an essential component in the construction of cavity walls. Responsible for holding the inner and outer leaf of the cavity wall together, wall ties prevent walls from separating or bowing outwards. Over time, your wall ties can deteriorate leading to potential structural issues. In this article, we give you a comprehensive guide on everything wall ties, from causes of failure to prevention, and when you need to think about replacing wall ties.

What Are Wall Ties?

Wall ties are metal connectors that span the cavity between the inner and outer leaf of the cavity wall. They’re typically made of galvanized steel or stainless steel designed to transfer lateral loads between the two leaves of the wall. They come in various shapes and sizes, such as butterfly ties, fishtail ties, and screw-in ties. You can read more about different types of wall ties here.

Do Wall Ties Really Need Replacing?

As essential components in cavity walls, wall ties help connect the inner and outer walls of your home, making them structurally stable. As a rule of thumb, if your home was built before the 1980s, you have around 15 to 20 years before you need to get a professional to replace wall ties in your home. Wall ties in properties built during and after the 1980s are generally made of stainless steel and can last well over 50 years. If you choose not to replace your damaged wall ties, the structural integrity of your walls can be compromised, causing it to become unstable. This could lead to further cracks and damage and, in severe cases, the wall may collapse, causing serious injury or even death. 

Why Do Wall Ties Fail and How to Prevent It?

Wall tie failure can occur due to various factors, but the most common cause is corrosion. Corrosion occurs when your metal meets moisture and oxygen. In the case of wall ties, this process is accelerated because they’re typically embedded in a moist environment within the cavity of a wall. Over time, this can cause wall ties to weaken and eventually fail, compromising the structural integrity of the building.

To prevent corrosion, ensure that the cavity is adequately ventilated, allowing moisture to escape, and reducing the risk of condensation. Additionally, choose ties made of corrosion-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or titanium. These materials are more expensive than traditional galvanized steel ties but offer greater protection against corrosion and are worth the investment in the long run. Another factor that can contribute to wall tie failure includes mechanical damage, such as drilling or cutting into the wall, and damage from improper installation, such as insufficient spacing or inadequate embedment depth. This type of damage can weaken the ties, making them more vulnerable to corrosion and prudent for you to replace wall ties in your property. Ensure that your ties are installed by certified professionals and avoid unnecessary trouble from improper installations.

How do I know if I need to be replacing my wall Ties?

Checking the condition of your ties is an important part of maintaining the structural integrity of your building. While most checking methods are relatively invasive, here are some steps you can take to check the condition of your ties:

 1. Look for visible signs of damage:

Most obvious signs that your wall ties are failing are if there are any visible cracks or bulges in the walls. Bulges can indicate that the wall ties have failed and are no longer providing the necessary support. You may also notice that walls are starting to bow or that the mortar joints are starting to crack.

2. Check for dampness:

Damp walls can also be an indicator of wall tie failure. Moisture enters the cavity through gaps in the mortar joints or around the windows and doors, and if wall ties are not functioning correctly, they can act as a bridge for the moisture to travel from the outer leaf to the inner leaf. This results in damp patches or stains on the internal walls, especially near the bottom where moisture tends to accumulate.

3. Inspect the condition of the mortar:

Cracks in the mortar joints between the bricks or blocks of your property’s walls could be an indication that your wall ties are failing. This occurs when your wall ties have corroded to the point where they are no longer able to provide the necessary support for the outer leaf of the wall. As a result, the bricks or blocks can shift and move, causing cracks to appear in the mortar joints. If you notice this, contact a professional immediately, this is a serious issue that requires immediate attention to prevent further damage.

4. Hire a professional:

If you suspect that your wall ties may be failing but are not sure where to start checking, call in a professional. A professional contractor can give you quick and honest advice on whether they need replacing. They’ll have the necessary tools and expertise to carry out a thorough inspection of your wall ties and provide qualified advice on whether you need to replace the wall ties in your property.

Regular inspections of your wall ties can help you catch any issues early on and prevent more serious problems from developing. If you notice any signs of damage or dampness, take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your building and your family.

How Can You Replace Wall Ties?

In general, the process for replacing wall ties involves removing the outer leaf of the wall, extracting the old wall ties, and installing new ones. Once the new wall ties are installed, the outer leaf is reattached, and any necessary repairs are carried out.

 The full process to replace wall ties can be complex and invasive requiring careful planning and execution. It’s crucial to seek professional advice and hire a qualified contractor to carry out the work. 

Wall ties are a critical component of cavity walls, and their failure can lead to serious structural issues. It’s essential to address any signs of wall tie failure promptly and seek professional advice when necessary. By understanding what causes wall tie failure and how to prevent it, you can take proactive steps to replace wall ties early to ensure the long-term integrity of cavity walls and the safety of your family. Don’t take the possibility of a compromised wall tie lightly. Your home’s structural integrity is too important to ignore.

What should I do if I am concerned?

Are you concerned about the condition of your wall ties? Ignoring the signs of wall tie failure can lead you to costlier structural issues or worse, serious injury. Let Atlantis give you some peace of mind. Schedule a professional inspection today.

Atlantis Property Preservation
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