Here the water is controlled by the roof and runs off away from the walls. The walls are not acting as the main defence against all that water discharging. The walls only get a little damp and not flooded with water.
The roof in this photo is complicated with lots of junctions where water may get in.
Weatherboards overlap each other and water runs over the face of the boards and has nowhere to become trapped.
The plaster waterproof coatings stop at the window and gaps and cracks form where water gets in.
The floor and walls in this example are well away from the ground and can quickly dry.
The floor is nearly at ground level and dampness builds up within the walls.
How we assess the risks and check for dampness and damage.
Inspect the exterior and look for risky roof designs, wall junctions and ground dampness such as those pictured above.
Carry out moisture scanning to the walls inside at-risk areas.
We may be requested to find out how much leaking or damage there is, so we use “invasive” testing methods using moisture probes, which are taken by drilling small holes.
When wet walls are found, we may cut it carefully open to determine if the framing needs replacing