Damp Solutions
Condensation
Believe it or not, condensation is the number one cause of dampness we see in Wigan homes. Modern houses are highly insulated to trap heat—but they also trap moisture. Showers, cooking, and drying clothes create high humidity. If that air can’t escape, it condenses into water droplets on cold walls and windows, leading to ugly, unhealthy black mould.
The Good News: This is usually the cheapest damp issue to resolve. Good ventilation is the key.
- Simple Fixes: Utilizing extractor fans and opening windows.
- Other Solutions: For persistent problems, we supply and install PIV (Positive Input Ventilation) units in your loft. They quietly replace damp air with fresh, filtered air, completely eliminating condensation. It’s incredibly cost-effective and budget-friendly.
Rising Damp
This happens when groundwater is sucked up through your bricks and mortar via capillary action—much like liquid travelling up a candle wick. This usually occurs when the original Damp Proof Course (DPC) fails due to age, or has been “breached” by backfilled soil or raised patios outside.
- The Signs: Bubbling plaster, salt stains, and flaking paint on ground-floor walls, usually staying below one meter in height.
- The Solution: We can inject a new chemical DPC layer and replace the damaged internal plaster to stop the moisture in its tracks
Penetrating Damp
Unlike rising damp, penetrating damp can happen at any height. It occurs when exterior rainwater manages to bypass your building’s outer shell and soak all the way through to your internal plaster.
- The Signs: Blistered wallpaper, damp patches that worsen after heavy rain, or green algae growth on the brickwork outside.
- Common Causes: Blocked or cracked gutters, failing roof tiles, degraded mortar pointing, or even a hidden leaking pipe buried in the wall.
- The Solution: We track down the root cause. Often, simply clearing a blocked downpipe or repointing a patch of brickwork solves the whole issue without needing expensive internal treatments.
