Damp Specialists in Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Weather Wise Solutions Limited are damp, mould and condensation specialists based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and we survey and treat homes across Wolverhampton and the WV postcode area. Whether it's a damp patch that won't dry, mould coming back in the same corner every winter or a musty smell under the floor, we'll find the cause and explain it plainly. Our surveys are free.

Damp in Wolverhampton homes

Wolverhampton grew fast in the 19th century on coal, iron and metalworking at the western edge of the Black Country, and its housing still shows each stage of that growth. Inner areas such as Whitmore Reans grew up as streets of Victorian terraces in the mid-1800s. Between the wars and after 1945 the town built large council estates, and private semis and detached houses spread out into the suburbs. Places that used to be separate, such as Tettenhall and Wednesfield, became part of the borough in 1966, and the city has kept growing since. Each kind of home gets damp in a different way.

Victorian and early 20th century terraces

Older terraces close to the centre are usually solid brick, one brick thick or a little more, with no cavity. Rain that gets past the outside face can reach the plaster inside, especially on walls facing the prevailing wind. A failed or bridged damp proof course, raised pavements and paths, and old gypsum plaster full of salts all show up as damp low on the wall. Many of these houses have also had a rear extension or a converted outrigger, and the junction between old and new is a common place for water to get in.

Inter-war and post-war estates

Homes from the 1920s to the 1970s are mostly brick with cavity walls. Rising damp is less common in them than people expect, but condensation and black mould are very common, especially where new windows, draught-proofing and loft insulation have made the house more airtight without adding ventilation. Some estate homes have had cavity wall insulation added later. Where that has got wet, or bridges the cavity, it can carry damp to the inside face of the wall, and we check for it.

Canals, brooks and old workings

The city has a dense canal network, with the Birmingham Canal, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Wyrley and Essington Canal all passing through, and the Smestow Brook runs along its western side. Most homes near water have no ground problem at all. Where the ground is low, wet or made up, we look at drainage, ground levels and any cellar or sub-floor void as part of the survey.

Common damp problems we deal with

• Rising damp: moisture rising from the ground into the base of a wall. We confirm it with readings and a look at the outside before recommending anything. See rising damp.
• Penetrating damp: rain coming through brickwork, chimneys, window surrounds or a failed gutter or downpipe. See penetrating damp.
• Condensation and black mould: moisture from everyday living settling on cold walls, windows and corners. See condensation and mould.
• Timber decay: wet rot, dry rot and woodworm in joists, floorboards and skirting, usually where damp has been left too long.

How we fix it

We find the cause first, because the same-looking stain can come from three different problems. Rising damp may need a new damp proof course and the right plaster afterwards; every damp proof course we fit comes with a 20-year insurance-backed guarantee. Penetrating damp is stopped from the outside, by repointing, gutter repairs or sealing a junction. Condensation is dealt with by reducing moisture and improving ventilation. Cellars and basements can be tanked: we use a tanking system to stop the damp, then a suitable plaster, and as a fully approved Remmers installer our tanking is covered by a Remmers manufacturer guarantee.

What happens at your survey

We ask where the damp is, when it shows and what has changed, then take moisture readings and look at the outside of the house: walls, gutters, ground levels, air bricks and ventilation. You get a plain explanation on the day and a written quote if work is needed. If the problem is a plumbing or roof job rather than damp, we tell you.

Most surveys are free. The exceptions are the Home Buyer Quote at £349, the Full Damp & Timber Report at £449 and the Ventilation Inspection & Report at £349. For a rented home, the visit is arranged with the landlord or their letting agent.

Who will survey your home

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 are members of the Damp Proofing Association, the Federation of Damp and Trust a Trader, and we are CHAS accredited and Google Guaranteed.

Areas we cover around Wolverhampton

We survey homes right across the WV area, including Tettenhall, Wednesfield, Wombourne and Willenhall, as well as Penn, Finchfield, Bushbury, Fordhouses and Codsall. Further north we cover Cannock, Burntwood and Stafford.

Questions Wolverhampton homeowners ask us

Do you really come out to Wolverhampton from Newcastle-under-Lyme?

Yes. We already survey homes across the WV postcode area, and the survey is free.

Is the damp in my terraced house rising damp?

Sometimes, but not always. In solid-wall terraces, rain getting through the wall, a bridged damp proof course or old salty plaster can look just like it. We check the outside before deciding.

Why does mould keep coming back after I clean it?

Because cleaning removes the mould but not the moisture that feeds it. If the air in the room stays damp and the wall stays cold, it grows back in the same places.

Could my cavity wall insulation be causing damp?

It can, if the insulation has got wet or the cavity is bridged. It isn't always the cause, so we check the wall, the outside and the pattern of the damp before saying either way.

How do I book a survey?

Call 01782 901101 or use our contact page.

Book a free damp survey in Wolverhampton

If damp, mould or condensation is a problem in your Wolverhampton 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.