Damp Specialists in Wombourne, South Staffordshire

Weather Wise Solutions Limited are damp, mould and condensation specialists based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and we survey and treat homes in Wombourne, including Giggetty, Blakeley, Ounsdale and the Bratch. If you've found damp, mould or a musty smell in your home, we'll come out, find the cause and explain what we find in plain English. Our surveys are free.

Wombourne's homes and why they get damp

Wombourne is a large village in South Staffordshire, about four miles south-west of Wolverhampton. The old village was small and gathered around its green. From the middle of the 20th century it grew fast: Wolverhampton council built several hundred homes here in the 1950s, estates followed around Giggetty and Brickbridge in the 1960s and 1970s, the Poolhouse estate in the 1980s, and newer housing west of the canal between Ounsdale and the Bratch more recently. The Wom Brook runs through the village to join the Smestow Brook just to the south, and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, with the Bratch Locks, runs down its western side.

Older cottages and houses near the green

The oldest homes are solid-walled and often built with lime mortar. Damp in these usually comes from rain getting through worn pointing or past a chimney, or from ground and paving raised against the walls over the years. Hard cement repairs and modern paint can stop an old wall drying out, so the damp moves inwards. We look at how the wall was built before suggesting any treatment. Where a cottage has been extended, the joint between the old and new walls is another place we check closely.

Post-war and later estates

Most of Wombourne's homes date from the 1950s onwards and have cavity walls. In these, condensation and black mould are far more common than rising damp. After new windows, insulation and sealed fireplaces, there is less air movement, and moisture settles on the coldest surfaces: window reveals, the corners of outside walls, the backs of wardrobes. Some homes also had cavity wall insulation added after they were built, and where it has become wet it can carry damp to the inside face of the wall.

Homes near the brooks and the canal

The Wom Brook has needed considerable work to reduce flooding. Most homes nearby have no damp problem from it, but where a house sits low, or the garden drains towards it, we check drainage, ground levels and any sub-floor void as part of the survey.

What we're called out for

• Rising damp at the base of walls, confirmed with readings before any work. See rising damp.
• Penetrating damp from rain, pointing, chimneys and gutters. See penetrating damp.
• Condensation and black mould, especially in airtight homes. See condensation and mould.
• Timber decay in floors, skirting and roof timbers where damp has been left.

How we fix it

The treatment depends on the cause. Rising damp may need a new damp proof course and the right plaster afterwards, and every damp proof course we fit comes with a 20-year insurance-backed guarantee. Rain getting in is stopped from the outside. Ground held against a wall may need lowering or draining. Condensation is tackled by reducing moisture and improving ventilation. We explain which applies to your home before anything is booked.

Your survey

We ask what you've noticed, take readings inside, check the walls, gutters, ground levels and ventilation outside, and look at nearby timber. You get a clear explanation on the day and a written quote if work is needed. If the problem turns out to be a plumbing or roof job rather than damp, we tell you. Most surveys are free; the Home Buyer Quote is £349, the Full Damp & Timber Report £449 and the Ventilation Inspection & Report £349. For a rented home we arrange the visit with the landlord or their letting agent.

Our surveyors

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.

Nearby areas we cover

We also survey homes in Wolverhampton, Tettenhall, Wednesfield and Willenhall, and in Penn, Trysull and Codsall.

Questions we're asked in Wombourne

We live near the Wom Brook. Is our damp from the ground?

Not necessarily. Most damp near a brook still comes from rain, condensation or a bridged damp proof course. We check ground levels and drainage as well as the walls before deciding.

Why is there mould on our bedroom ceiling?

Often because of moisture from the house settling on a cold patch, such as where loft insulation has slipped or is missing. Better ventilation and putting the insulation right usually solve it.

Should we inject a damp proof course in an old cottage?

Only if rising damp is confirmed. Older solid walls often get damp from raised ground, rain or the wrong mortar. Fixing those comes first.

Is the survey really free?

Yes, most surveys are free. The paid ones are the Home Buyer Quote, the Full Damp & Timber Report and the Ventilation Inspection & Report.

How do I book?

Call 01782 901101 or use our contact page.

Book a free damp survey in Wombourne

For damp, mould or condensation in your Wombourne home, call Weather Wise Solutions on 01782 901101 or book through our contact page.