Condensation in London Homes

When warm meets cold, droplets of water form on the warm surface and this is a very common issue in London, where the climate is naturally damp. Condensation can seriously damage plaster, skirting and architrave and it is primarily an issue in the cold winter months. If not addressed, condensation can lead to significant damage to a building, which is why you should have regular damp inspections.

What Are the Primary Causes of Condensation?

Condensation can be caused by the following:

• Inadequate heating
• Lack of ventilation
• Hot bath/shower in a closed space
• Drying wet clothing indoors
• Leaking water pipes and drains
• Leaking roof
• Poor insulation
• Damp penetrating internal walls

Keeping the home warm and wiping away condensation minimises the risk of mould forming, while opening windows when running hot water allows moist air to escape. If you are unsure what is causing droplets of condensation to form on your windows or walls, we use state-of-the-art equipment to accurately diagnose all damp and mould issues.

How to Prevent Condensation

It is critical to remove moisture in the air and that means adequate ventilation and periodically whole-house heating, which should have a positive effect on minimising condensation. The importance of generating air movement cannot be overemphasised; this can be achieved by installing several extractor fans in key locations or opening a few windows. Of course, bathrooms and kitchens are prime spaces for condensation and the use of a portable dehumidifier can greatly reduce excess moisture.

Condensation Can Be a Sign of Rising or Penetrating Damp

Both rising damp and penetrating damp can lead to droplets of moisture forming on windows and walls and in order to be absolutely sure what is causing condensation, you should book an independent damp survey with London Damp Specialists. We have a team of PCA-certified damp surveyors and they have seen everything and can accurately source the cause of your condensation issues. If, for example, we find that rising damp is the cause of the condensation, the treatment might involve repairing or replacing the DPC or even injecting a chemical DPC into the cavity walls.

Effective Strategies to Reduce Condensation

There are things that you can do to reduce the risk of condensation in your London home, such as:

• Avoid drying damp garments indoors
• Whole heat the house from time to time
• Open windows when cooking and running a hot bath/shower and keep the door closed
• Use a portable dehumidifier to dry out specific spaces
• Inject a chemical insulator into cavity walls to improve insulation
• Generate adequate ventilation throughout the property
• Wipe up droplets of water when they form to prevent damage

All of the above can help to reduce the risk of condensation in the winter months and if you would like professional advice, book an independent damp survey with us and one of our PCA-certified surveyors will inspect your home and source the causes of condensation.

Condensation Treatment

There are numerous ways to effectively treat condensation, which are as follows:

• Injectable insulation into cavity walls
• Remove damp plaster and apply waterproof render
• Installation of thermal plasterboard
• Waterproof skim plaster and paint

If your home has a condensation problem and you are looking for a professional assessment, contact London Damp Specialists, a family-run company that has been damp-proofing London homes since 1981. We can survey the property and offer a competitive quote for the best long-term solution and what’s more, we fully guarantee our damp-proofing work for 30 years.

Our Work Process

At London Damp Specialists, we have a smooth process that begins with an initial consultation, which gives the customer an opportunity to ask questions, while we can gather essential information. The next step is a site visit when our certified damp surveyor inspects the property, which involves taking measurements, recording data and making observations. We then provide the customer with a detailed report, along with a quote for the recommended treatment, and should the customer be in agreement, a work schedule is set. The work is then completed according to the timeline and once the customer is satisfied, payment is made.

Call London Damp Specialists on 020 8242 9391 or complete the survey booking form on this website and we will be in touch in good time.