Damp walls are one of the most common property complaints in the UK. The cause isn't always obvious, and misdiagnosis is common. Here's a breakdown of everything that can cause damp in walls.
1. Condensation The most common cause of damp in the UK. Warm, moist air meets cold wall surfaces and deposits moisture. This is especially common in kitchens, bathrooms, and poorly ventilated rooms.
2. Rising Damp Groundwater travels up through walls by capillary action. Seen at the base of ground-floor walls where the DPC has failed.
3. Penetrating Damp Water enters through defects in the building fabric — cracked render, poor pointing, failed window seals, blocked gutters, or roof defects.
4. Plumbing Leaks A leaking pipe behind a wall can create a persistent damp patch that's often misidentified as rising or penetrating damp.
5. Bridged DPC If soil, paving, or render has been raised above the damp-proof course level, it allows moisture to bypass it.
6. Interstitial Condensation Moisture condenses within the structure of a wall rather than on the surface — common in solid walls and after certain types of insulation are added.
Getting the cause right before treating is essential. Shadbolt Plastering offers professional damp surveys across South London and Surrey.
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