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What are the signs of damp in my home?

Damp is one of the common issues that most houses face at some time or the other. While in few cases, there are no visible signs of damp as such till one makes an attempt to see through every portion of the building or sometimes flash flooding leads to detection of the issue. In many other cases, it might even take a year or so to become noticeable. However, by that time, a lot of damage has perhaps happened. It is definitely recommended to get in touch with specialists who can understand damp problems, both indoors and outdoors and even diagnose the extent of the affected area, suggesting workable solutions that are best for each individual case.

How does damp occur?


Causes can be varied, yet dampness is caused if there is a sudden increase in moisture levels that seep through a permeable substance without prior warning. In certain cases, the moisture evaporates with time and the problem gets minimized, provided there aren’t salt deposits that stay on the surface. If such is the issue, then the problem intensifies further.

The following are some of the major causes of damp:

    • Holes in roofs, or damaged slates and tiles
    • Gutters that leak, causing water to either run directly outside walls or simply splatter on the ground
  • Plumbing, especially when a tiny drip happened and a path is caused
  • Grooves or pits under windows
  • Damp plasters that contain certain residual salts after water has been rinsed out
  • Cement rendering that is susceptible to cracks all over the surface
  • High ground levels at the exterior
  • Modern day paints or wallpapers

How to detect the presence of damp?

how to tell if you have damp

Signs of damp

  1. One of the best ways to find rising damp is by checking the tide marks that are left on the wall, primarily due to the moisture evaporating and the salts remaining on the ground. This is usually found anywhere up to a meter above the skirting boards.
  2. The next thing to check for is finding the wallpapers or paints in their intact condition. If you see that’s coming off, as in the corner of the wallpaper turned or curved up from one side, it’s time you become cautious.
  3. Like many other types of dampness, the rising damp can cause rotting within the timbers if it’s get directly in contact with timber. The moment you see skirting cracked or crumbling down or even presence of local fungus that’s creeping from the side, it’s a clear cut sign of damp.
  4. Most of the times, presence of salts create fluffy patches inside the plaster. Often, it resembles blisters on the walls and that is what you must be careful about. Walls often show you presence of black moulds above the skirting boards. Now check to see if the blackish patches are present all over the property or localized in one section only.

There are cases of misdiagnoses that have resulted in delayed detection of damp. To save your home from the repercussions of damp, be careful about hiring an expert who will suggest the perfect solution at the right time.

What is causing the damp in your home?  Follow this link to read more.