Damp Specialists in Buxton, Derbyshire

Weather Wise Solutions Limited are damp, mould and condensation specialists based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and we survey and treat homes in Buxton and across the High Peak. Stone houses high up in the Peak District take a lot of weather, and we can tell you whether the damp in yours is coming through the wall, up from the ground or from the air inside. Our damp surveys are free.

Why Buxton homes get damp

Buxton is a spa town in the Peak District and one of the highest market towns in England, so it gets more rain, wind and cold than towns down in the valleys. Its centre has grand Georgian and Victorian buildings, the Crescent among them, with streets of stone terraces and villas around them, and later estates and newer housing on the edges of town. A lot of Buxton's older housing is built from local stone. Those walls behave differently from brick, and the weather here puts them under more strain, so damp in Buxton often has a different cause from damp in the same type of house elsewhere.

Stone terraces and older villas

Thick stone walls were built to soak up some rain and let it dry out again. Problems start when that drying is stopped: hard cement pointing or render, impermeable paint, or a wall left without enough overhang and guttering. Water then stays in the wall and finds its way to the plaster inside, often on the side that faces the worst of the weather. Chimney stacks, parapets and valley gutters on older roofs are other common places for rain to get in. In these houses the answer is usually to help the wall dry, not to seal it up.

Cold walls and condensation

Long cold winters mean outside walls stay cold for months. Moisture from cooking, showers and drying clothes indoors settles on those cold surfaces, and black mould follows, often behind furniture, in the corners of bedrooms and around window reveals. We wrote about this in stopping mould behind furniture and curtains. The fix is to deal with the moisture and the cold spots together.

Newer homes

Cavity-walled houses built from the 1950s onwards are less prone to rain getting through, but the exposure up here still finds weak points around windows, doors and roof junctions. Condensation is the main problem we're called to in these homes, especially after new windows or other draught-proofing.

Damp problems we deal with in Buxton

• Penetrating damp: rain driven through stonework, pointing, chimneys and roof junctions. See penetrating damp.
• Condensation and black mould: everyday moisture settling on cold stone walls and window reveals. See condensation and mould.
• Rising damp: moisture from the ground at the base of a wall, which we confirm before treating. See rising damp.
• Timber decay: wet rot and dry rot in joists, floorboards and window frames where damp has sat for a long time. See dry rot and wet rot.

How we fix it

We find the cause first, because on a stone house the wrong repair can make things worse. Penetrating damp is stopped from the outside: repointing, gutter and downpipe repairs, or sorting out a chimney or roof junction. Where a wall needs protecting from driving rain, breathable masonry protection is an option, and we explain whether it suits your wall. Condensation is reduced by cutting moisture and improving ventilation, which can include a positive input ventilation unit. Where rising damp is confirmed we fit a damp proof course, and every damp proof course we install comes with a 20-year insurance-backed guarantee. Cellars can be tanked with a tanking system followed by a suitable plaster; we're a fully approved Remmers installer, so our tanking is covered by a Remmers manufacturer guarantee.

At your survey

We'll ask where the damp shows and whether it's worse after rain, in cold spells or all year round. Then we take moisture readings inside and look at the outside: the stonework and pointing, render, gutters, chimney, ground levels and ventilation. You'll get a clear explanation on the day and a written quote if work is needed. If the problem is a roofing or plumbing job, we'll say so.

Most surveys are free. The paid services are the Home Buyer Quote at £349, the Full Damp & Timber Report at £449 and the Ventilation Inspection & Report at £349. For rented homes we arrange the visit with the landlord or their letting agent.

Our surveying team

Our surveying team includes professionals holding the Certified Surveyor of Timber & Dampness in Buildings (CSTDB) qualification alongside the Level 3 Award DMCB and the City & Guilds-recognised FODCS qualification. See our qualified surveyors page. We're members of the Damp Proofing Association, the Federation of Damp and Trust a Trader, and we're CHAS accredited and Google Guaranteed.

Areas we cover around Buxton

We survey homes across Buxton and the High Peak, including Harpur Hill, Fairfield, Burbage, Peak Dale, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whaley Bridge. Close by we cover Glossop, Macclesfield and Leek. Elsewhere in the county see Derby and Chesterfield, or our Derbyshire page.

Questions Buxton homeowners ask

Do you come out to Buxton?

Yes. We cover Buxton and the High Peak, and the survey is free.

Should I seal my stone walls to keep the rain out?

Usually not with anything that stops the wall breathing. Sealing can trap water inside the stone and make the damp worse. We'll tell you what suits your wall.

The damp only appears in winter. Is it condensation?

Quite possibly, because cold walls make condensation much worse. Rain getting in can also be worse in winter, though, so we check both before deciding.

Can old cement pointing cause damp?

Yes. Hard cement pointing on soft stone can stop the wall drying out and push the moisture inwards. Repointing in a suitable mortar is sometimes the real fix.

How do I book?

Call 01782 901101 or use our contact page.

Book a free damp survey in Buxton

If damp, mould or condensation is a problem in your Buxton home, call Weather Wise Solutions on 01782 901101 or get in touch through our contact page, and we'll find out why it's happening.