Penetrating damp
Penetrating damp repairs in Hull & East Yorkshire.
Penetrating damp is rainwater getting into the building through a defect somewhere outside. The fix is to find where it’s getting in and repair it, then put the inside right.
Backed by guarantees of up to 30 years.
The cause
Finding where the water gets in.
Penetrating damp can show up at any height on a wall. It’s often patchy, and usually gets worse after heavy or wind-driven rain. Older solid-walled houses, which are common across Hull and East Yorkshire, are particularly exposed, as there’s no cavity to stop water tracking through.
The survey matters here, because the defect outside isn’t always directly opposite the damp patch inside. If you haven’t had one yet, start with a damp survey.
Repairs
Common penetrating damp repairs.
- Repointing. Eroded or cracked mortar joints let rain soak into the wall. We rake out and repoint the affected brickwork, using a mortar suited to the wall. On older solid walls that’s often a lime mortar, so the wall can still breathe.
- Gutters and downpipes. Blocked, cracked or leaking rainwater goods can soak one area of wall every time it rains. Clearing, resealing or replacing them is often the cheapest damp repair there is.
- Render repairs. Cracked or hollow render traps water behind it instead of keeping it out. We cut out and repair damaged sections, and seal around sills and openings.
- Bridged ground levels. Soil, flower beds, paths or patios built up against the wall can sit above the damp-proof course and let moisture straight past it. Lowering the ground or adding a drainage channel fixes the cause.
- Masonry water-repellent treatments. Once the repairs are done, a breathable water-repellent cream can be applied to exposed brickwork to reduce how much rain it absorbs. It’s a finishing measure on sound brickwork, not a substitute for repairing it.
One firm for the whole job
We do the replastering and making good ourselves.
Once the outside is fixed and the wall has had a chance to dry, we replaster any damaged or salt-stained areas inside, make good and redecorate, so the room is finished as well as dry.
That means one firm, one point of contact and one price, with no gap between the damp work finishing and a separate plasterer or decorator turning up. See our plastering and decorating services for more on that side of the work.
Before & after
What it looks like before and after.
AI-generated illustration
AI-generated illustration
Images marked “AI-generated illustration” show typical damp problems and repairs. They aren’t photos of our own work, and we’ll replace them with photos from real jobs as they’re completed.
Related services
Other damp problems we deal with.
Book a damp survey
We’ll trace where the water is getting in and fix that first.
Backed by guarantees of up to 30 years.
Water-repellent treatments: 10-year guarantee. Repairs: 2 years. Guarantee terms.
Frequently asked questions
Penetrating damp FAQs.
How can I tell penetrating damp from rising damp?
Penetrating damp is often higher up the wall, patchy and worse after rain. Rising damp sits low on ground-floor walls and changes little with the weather. Some houses have both, which is why we survey before recommending anything.
Will a water-repellent cream fix my damp on its own?
Usually not. It helps reduce rain absorption on sound brickwork, but if the pointing, render or gutters are defective, those need repairing first.
How long does the wall take to dry after the repair?
It depends on how wet the wall got and how thick it is. It can take weeks or months. We’ll advise on when it’s ready to replaster and decorate.
Do you do the inside repairs as well?
Yes. We replaster, make good and redecorate the inside once the cause outside is fixed.