Find the real cause of damp before you pay for a cure

This guide is for homeowners in the UK who have found damp patches, peeling paint, salty tidemarks or mould and are worried about the cost of putting it right. Damp is often misdiagnosed, and expensive treatments such as chemical damp-proof course injections and replastering are sometimes sold when the real cause is condensation, a leak, a blocked gutter or raised ground outside. You will work through simple tests indoors and out, fix the cheap causes first and only then decide whether you need a specialist. At the end you will have a damp log, a clear diagnosis or a brief for an independent surveyor, and questions that protect you from mis-selling.

What is inside

• Full step-by-step method9 detailed steps with decision points
• Ready-to-use templatesDamp log for each patch · Email briefing an independent surveyor · Questions to put to any damp-proofing contractor
• Timed action plan7 stages from “Day 1” to “After the report”
• Costly mistakes to avoid4 traps and what to do instead
• Complete checklist12 items to tick off
• Insider tips and fixes4 tips and 4 common problems solved

Step by step

1. Make it safe and decide how urgent it is

   If water is dripping near sockets, switches or light fittings, do not touch them; if the consumer unit is dry and safe to reach, switch off the main switch, and call a qualified electrician. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from underneath and turn off the water at the internal stop tap. If you smell gas at any point, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service – never investigate yourself. Floors that feel soft or springy may have rotten joists, so keep weight off them until checked. If anyone in the home has asthma, a lung condition or a weakened immune system and there is a lot of mould, treat it as a priority and speak to your GP or pharmacist about their symptoms. Otherwise, damp is rarely an emergency, and taking a few weeks to diagnose it properly is the best way to save money.