Damp, mould, and condensation

There are three main types of dampness:

• Dampness caused by disrepair
  Penetrating dampness could be caused by roof, gutter or pipe leaks. Problems of this sort should be quite straightforward to fix once they have been identified, although the dampness may take some time to dry out. A dehumidifier may help speed up drying.

• Rising damp
  This mainly affects ground floor rooms and is caused by ground water soaking up into the walls and floors. This is usually because a damp proof course or damp proof membrane is not working or because there is no damp proofing. Sorting out rising damp can require quite extensive work, particularly if damp wall plaster has to be replaced.

• Condensation
  Condensation is a problem associated with moisture created inside a building. The presence of black mould usually means there’s condensation. It can be caused if there isn’t adequate insulation, heating or ventilation or if lots of extra moisture is being produced. There is lots you can do to minimise condensation and help prevent black mould growth.