How do you fix penetrating damp on external walls?
From the outside. After a survey we repair any failed render or masonry, then apply a breathable, water-repellent coating so the wall sheds rain but can still dry out. Seal a wall completely and you trap moisture, so the system has to let the building breathe. If the brickwork is too damaged to coat, we will tell you to repair or replace it first.
What does commercial damp proofing cost?
We do not publish fixed prices, because it depends entirely on your building: the size and height of the elevations, the access and scaffolding, the condition of the walls, and how much render or masonry repair comes before coating. We quote in writing only after a free survey, so the figure reflects your property rather than a guess.
Can render defects cause damp?
Yes. Cracked, blown or porous render is one of the most common causes of external wall damp we see. Once render fails it holds water against the wall behind it instead of shedding it, and that shows as damp inside. We repair or replace defective render before applying a waterproof coating, so the cause is dealt with rather than covered over.
Do you find the cause before suggesting any treatment?
Always. There's a lot of damp-proofing nonsense sold, so we work out where the water is actually getting in before anyone reaches for a coating. Covering a wet wall without knowing why it's wet is how people waste good money.
Will an exterior coating fix my damp wall?
Sometimes. A breathable exterior coating only helps when wind-driven rain soaking into porous brick or cracked render is the cause. If it's rising damp, condensation or a plumbing fault, a wall coating won't touch it, and we'll point you at the trade that can.
Can sorting the wall now save a bigger job later?
Often, yes. Catch porous brick, tired render or gone pointing while the wall is still sound and it's repair, prep and a breathable coating. Leave a wall to soak season after season and the damp works deeper into the structure, and that's a far heavier job to put right.
Do you work on occupied commercial buildings?
Most of our damp work is on buildings still in use, so offices keep working and units keep trading while we deal with the elevations. The work is on the outside of the wall, so it rarely touches what is going on inside.
