Damp Specialists in Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Weather Wise Solutions Limited are damp, mould and condensation specialists based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and we survey and treat homes in Chesterfield and across north-east Derbyshire. Whether it's a wall that never seems to dry, mould behind the wardrobe or a damp smell in the hall, we'll work out where the water is coming from and explain it clearly. Our damp surveys are free.

Chesterfield's homes and why they get damp

Chesterfield is an old market town best known for the crooked spire of its parish church, and for most of the last two centuries it grew on coal, iron and engineering. That left a wide mix of housing: brick terraces near the town centre and along the old main roads, rows of houses built for mining families in the surrounding villages, inter-war semis, large post-war estates and newer housing on the edges of town. The damp problems change with the age and build of the house, so the survey starts with what kind of home it is.

Older brick terraces

Terraces from the late 1800s and early 1900s usually have solid walls, so a wall that takes a lot of weather can let rain through to the inside. Low-level damp in these houses often comes from a damp proof course that has failed or been bridged, ground or paths built up against the wall over the years, or old plaster that has soaked up salts and keeps drawing in moisture. Kitchens and bathrooms in the old rear outriggers are where we often find condensation as well, because they're small, busy and cold.

Former mining villages

Around Chesterfield, places such as Staveley, Clay Cross and Bolsover grew up around collieries, and many of their homes were built quickly and to a budget. Some are solid brick, some have been altered several times, and some have had render, new windows or insulation added since. Damp in these homes is often the result of a later change that stopped the wall drying out, so we look at what's been done to the house as well as the wall itself.

Post-war estates and newer homes

Cavity-walled homes from the 1950s onwards rarely suffer true rising damp. What we see far more is condensation and black mould, especially in bedrooms on outside walls and in kitchens and bathrooms without good extraction. Where cavity wall insulation has been added and has got wet, damp can show on the inside face of an outside wall, and we test for that rather than guessing.

Damp problems we fix in Chesterfield

• Rising damp: ground moisture rising into the base of a wall. We prove it with readings and an outside check first. See rising damp.
• Penetrating damp: rain coming through brickwork, pointing, chimneys or around windows, or from a blocked or broken gutter. See penetrating damp.
• Condensation and black mould: moisture from cooking, washing and breathing landing on the coldest surfaces. See condensation and mould.
• Wet rot, dry rot and woodworm: timber that has stayed damp too long, often under floors or behind skirting. See woodworm and wet rot.

How we treat it

We fix the cause, not just the stain. Where rising damp is confirmed we install a new damp proof course and replaster with the right plaster, and every damp proof course we fit comes with a 20-year insurance-backed guarantee. Penetrating damp is stopped at the outside, whether that's repointing, a gutter repair or sealing a junction. For condensation we reduce the moisture and improve the ventilation, which may mean better extraction or a positive input ventilation unit. Damp cellars are tanked: a tanking system stops the damp, then a suitable plaster goes on, and as a fully approved Remmers installer our tanking is covered by a Remmers manufacturer guarantee.

What to expect at the survey

We'll start by asking where the damp is, when it gets worse and whether anything has changed recently, such as new windows or a new extension. Then we take readings inside and look closely at the outside walls, pointing, gutters, ground levels and air bricks. You'll get a plain explanation before we leave and a written quote if any work is needed. If what you need is a plumber or a roofer rather than us, we'll tell you.

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.

Who carries out the survey

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. Meet them on 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 Chesterfield

We survey homes across Chesterfield, including Brampton, Brimington, Hasland, Newbold and Walton, and in Staveley, Dronfield, Clay Cross, Bolsover and Wingerworth. Elsewhere in Derbyshire see Derby, Buxton and Glossop, or our Derbyshire page.

Questions Chesterfield homeowners ask

Do you really cover Chesterfield?

Yes. We survey homes across north-east Derbyshire, and the survey is free.

My house has had new windows and now there's mould. Is that connected?

Often, yes. New windows seal up gaps that used to let moist air out. If nothing replaces that ventilation, the moisture settles on the coldest walls and corners instead.

Can damp be caused by work done to the house years ago?

Yes. A path laid too high, a rendered wall or blocked air bricks can all trap moisture long after the work was done. We look at the history of the house as well as the damp.

Do I need a damp proof course?

Only if rising damp is actually the cause. Plenty of low-level damp comes from bridging or salts, which a new damp proof course won't fix. We tell you which it is.

How do I book?

Call 01782 901101 or use our contact page.

Book a free damp survey in Chesterfield

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