Damp Proofing Northallerton

Northallerton is a market town and civil parish near the River Wiske, North Yorkshire, England. It is an administrative centre of the North Yorkshire District and has served as the county town of the North Riding of Yorkshire from 1889–1974 and of North Yorkshire from 1974–2023.

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The main causes of damp are: condensation, penetrating damp, rising damp and dry or wet rot.

Condensation forms when warm, moist air makes contact with cool surfaces, such as windows or uninsulated walls. Symptoms include steamed-up windows, damp patches, peeling wallpaper and mould.

Penetrating damp occurs when water has got into the fabric of a building, with damp patches on ceilings and walls. It can cause mould and timber decay.

Rising damp comes from moisture rising up through the walls of a building. It does this through the brickwork, which acts to suck the water upwards. Often, rising damp leaves a noticeable tide mark.

Dry and wet rot affect timber in a property and are the result of a fungal growth. Initial symptoms are similar, including a mushroom-like smell and sprouting fungus. Eventually, dry rot tends to do more serious damage, and likely to be more advanced before it is detected.

A damp proof course, and other professional treatments, can prevent damp in buildings.

Rising damp is a relatively rare form of damp. It affects the walls of buildings and occurs when moisture from the ground rises up through the brickwork in a capillary motion. Once this starts to happen, other porous building materials such as plaster and timber will also absorb groundwater more easily.

Symptoms of rising damp include damp tide marks on solid walls; white salt marks and other discoloration; peeling wallpaper; skirting boards affected by dry or wet rot.

If left untreated, rising damp can lead to structural problems, as well as damage to plasterwork, flooring and other decoration.

A rising damp treatment can include a damp proofing injection or applying a damp proof membrane.

The cost of damp proofing very much depends on the kind of damp proofing treatment you require.

Different causes of damp require different solutions.

For example, if your damp is down to condensation, then it might be a case of fitting ventilation or adding air bricks to improve air flow in your property.

However, should you require rising damp treatment, then this will be more extensive.

Importantly, damp proofing is an investment in the future of your property.

Damp proofing can vary in the time it takes, depending on the type of damp treatment and the size of the property.

A full damp proof course includes a degree of preparation before application and various aspects of remedial work.

It first involves removing any surrounding soil or bridging material to a minimum of 150mm below your existing damp proof course.

Then we inject a chemical damp proof course, which is a special cream that goes into the walls and floor, to penetrate the mortar deeply.

We will then remove any damp or rotten flooring, and remove and replace damaged plasterwork and skirting boards.

This should take is three to four days, maximum.