Internal signs of penetrating damp

Damp patches on wall, black mould growth

wet rot, effecting wooden fixtures

Inside the home, penetrating damp wreaks havoc on plaster and plasterboard. Both types of interior finishes are porous and capable of absorbing lots of moisture.

Plasterboard swells and softens, while plaster blisters and flakes. This damage is aesthetic and structural, it weakens and damages the finish of the wall while providing the perfect conditions for mould to grow.

Damp brickwork and masonry encourage black mould growth on walls, black mould is more common internally due to the higher temperatures needed for growth.

Black mould can grow on exterior walls too, black mould thrives in wet, warm and humid conditions. The combination of cold weather, warm interior heating and wet walls means can cause black mould to grow alongside penetrating damp.

Black mould is harmful to the health of buildings and people, it is hard to get rid of. You must remove the invisible hyphae that exist below the substrate as well as the visible mould.

Where wooden fixtures, furniture and skirting boards directly contact the damp wall, the moisture transfers through. Where fungal spores are present, this can cause wet rot. Penetrating damp causes serious damage if it reaches structural timber and will need immediate professional attention.

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