First Time Buyers Guide To Damp

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a property for the first time if you’re a first-time buyer. It’s not uncommon to become engrossed in the paperwork and overlook little facts, such as whether the house shows indications of wetness. Now, presumably, the survey will detect any problems, but what if they develop after you’ve acquired your new home? About assist you, we’ve put up a guide to damp and how it can influence your new property for first-time buyers. When you’re a first-time buyer, there are many things to think about when purchasing your new home. It’s not uncommon to get caught up in all the paperwork and miss some finer details, such as does the property have signs of damp? Now hopefully your survey will pick up any issues but if they arise after you have purchased your new home, what do you do? To help, we have put together a first-time buyers guide to damp and how it can affect your new home.

Spotting Rising Damp

Filling most new house buyers with dread, hearing the words, rising damp is scary! You don’t always need special equipment to spot the signs of rising damp, Ask yourself the following questions: –
– Are there tide marks on the wall?
– Is the wall Damp to the touch?
– Does the plaster feel like paste?
– Is any wallpaper peeling away?
– Have the skirting boards started to decay?

If you answer yes to one or a combination of the above, it could be a sign you have rising damp and it is time to contact your local damp specialist.

Lateral Damp

Although lateral damp appears to be similar to rising damp, the water source for lateral damp is mainly from exterior walls, leaking gutters, and other outside areas. These moist patches might appear on the wall in any location.

Penetrating Damp

As with lateral damp, penetrating damp comes from external walls. The damp patches will increase in size in wet conditions, such as rain. Check the external areas of where the damp patches have appeared to locate the issue.

If you spot any of the above signs it’s time to contact Orchard Preservations and tackle the problem as soon as possible.

Damp Proofing Exeter

Orchard Preservations is an expert in damp proofing in Exeter and has over 20 years ‘experience damp proofing your homes and businesses in the South West. We specialise in both rising damp and penetrating damp and are able to quickly identify and recommend the best course of action, for you to take to prevent damp from damaging your home.