Damp Plaster Repair in Thamesmead

Thamesmead's estates and low-lying riverside ground mean damp plaster is a common problem. Blown plaster, salt marks and peeling paint low down on the walls are all signs the plaster has been damaged by moisture.

The cause comes first. Replastering over a wall that is still getting wet just moves the damage somewhere else. In Thamesmead homes, damp is often condensation, a leaking gutter or pipe, or ground that has been built up against the wall, rather than true rising damp.

Once the source is fixed, the damaged plaster is cut back to sound material, well beyond the visible stain. Salt-contaminated plaster keeps drawing moisture from the air, so it has to come off completely.

The wall is replastered with a system suited to it - often a salt-resistant backing coat and a breathable finish - so it can dry out without the damage returning.

Condensation damp is common in Thamesmead flats, and extraction and ventilation advice is part of the job so the new plaster stays dry.

The repaired area is finished flush with the surrounding wall, ready for paint once dry.

Many Thamesmead homes were built with concrete panel construction, and damp there behaves differently from damp in a brick house. Cold bridging at the panel joints often causes condensation in the corners of rooms and behind wardrobes, so the repair looks at insulation and airflow in those spots as well as replacing the damaged plaster itself. Photos of the wall or ceiling, and a note of any cracks, damp patches or hollow-sounding areas, are enough to say what the job involves.