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Penetrating Damp

We've put a few photos here of different types of penetrating damp.  Dont forget it can come from all sorts of places - but common causes include:

Ground levels outside are too high - above the top of the floors internally

Rainwater goods discharging against the wall

Water being drawn through soft and porous stone that appears internally

Cracks or holes in mortar joints

Penetrating damp
Water being pulled through a very porous stone window sill which bridges from the outside of the wall to the inside. This is a common problem with old stone window sills.

Penetrating damp in Edinburgh

This is a classic example of how penetrating damp can be caused.  A stone arched gateway butted up to the house wall, and was not properly flashed to keep water off the join.  It ran down the wall, and was trapped in the structure of the gateway - with nowhere else to go, it emerged inside the house, soaking the hallway wall.

Penetrating damp caused by gateway
Detail of penetrating damp
Penetrating damp internally
Condensation related Dampness in buildingsDamp problems caused by Cement Pointing of brick or stone
Damp and Condensation
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Always research the subject thoroughly.

Check out local companies that claim to be experts in damp issues.  Check their 'qualifications'.  Find out where they live, where they operate from. Would YOU trust these people?  Ask them to explain the various sources of dampness in an old house - ask them how they can tell the difference between rising damp and other sources of water.  Can they actually tell you how 'rising damp' is supposed to work - I can't !

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About Us

The Heritage House brand is Petes brainchild. He lives in a beautiful old farmhouse in Shropshire He's worked all over the world on old buildings, and has a strong background in geochemistry. He is passionate about ensuring the 'Rising Damp' myth is firmly buried. Pete has an all consuming project to re-open a Victorian lead mine in the Northern Pennines - digging out and exploring miles of abandoned tunnels in the search for crystal lined cavities... 

This website is for information only. If you want or need a building survey, a damp survey or advice, you need to follow the links to our sister company Heritage House Surveys. 

Disclaimer

Note! The opinions expressed on this website are often Pete's. They are frequently strong, unambiguous, and based on extensive experience of what goes on out there. Pete does not like to see the buying public being conned, defrauded, duped, sold a lemon, given bad or misleading advice, or crap surveys using equipment that is unsuited for the job.  If you don't like what is written here - don't threaten us - clean your act up.

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Heritage House - Shropshire

Telephone: 01746 862 640 and 01746 233 108

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01904 202 556

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0203 301 2509

If you have a question, please use the question links in the Knowledge Base:

Our email: office@heritage-survey.org

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