Stop water ingress from external defects, leaks, and porous masonry.
10+
Years Experience
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Unlike rising damp which comes from the ground and rises vertically, penetrating damp is caused by water entering the building horizontally through walls, roofs, or windows. It can occur at any level of the building, from the basement right up to the loft conversion.
It is essentially a building defect issue. If your roof, walls, or rainwater goods are not completely watertight, rain will find a way in. In East Anglia, wind-driven rain is a major cause, especially on exposed gable ends where porous brickwork can become saturated during heavy storms.
Even hairline cracks in render can lead to significant internal dampness
Porous Brickwork — A Primary Cause of Penetrating Damp
Identifying the source is 90% of the battle. Our specialists inspect all of these potential failure points during our assessment.
Real properties across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex — these are the typical conditions our specialists examine during a penetrating damp inspection.
Ground-Level Water Entry
Failed Pointing & Saturation
Bridged DPC at Bay Window
Salt Staining on Masonry
We don't just patch the internal plaster; we locate and fix the source of the water ingress. Our approach is holistic, aiming to restore the weatherproof integrity of your home.
For porous brickwork, we apply a high-performance, colourless water repellent cream (like Stormdry). This penetrates deeply into the brick (up to 12mm), lining the pores so water beads off, while still allowing the wall to breathe naturally.
We carry out all necessary external repairs including repointing, render patching, crack stitching, and gutter maintenance to re-establish the building's outer defence.
Where external access is impossible (e.g., in cellars or on boundary walls abutting other properties), we can install internal tanking membrane systems to manage moisture ingress.
Stop leaks, protect your masonry from freeze-thaw damage, and improve your home's thermal efficiency.
Penetrating Damp
Look at the wall outside the affected room, including pointing, render, window and door seals, roof junctions, gutters, and downpipes. A defect near a damp patch can be a useful clue, but water may travel before it appears indoors and the pattern alone does not prove the source. Record where and when the problem appears, then check the exterior safely or seek an inspection.
Read about damp inspections →KDS Property Preservation provides professional damp proofing, waterproofing, timber treatment and property preservation services across East Anglia. We cover Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of London East.
