ABSTRACT
Distinguishing condensation, rising dampness and penetrating dampness is not always easy. An incorrect diagnosis will usually lead to inappropriate repair work; work which not only fails to cure the problem, but may even make it worse. Fortunately, a rudimentary understanding of condensation and dampness, backed up with some fairly simple site tests, can minimise the risks of misdiagnosis and the costs of unnecessary consequential repairs. There must be thousands of houses in the UK that have been re-rendered, partly replastered, or that have had replacement DPCs, all because of some inadequate and incomplete inspection carried out by a surveyor — possibly employed by a damp proofing company that has a vested interest in finding dampness.
