Damp Specialists in Stone, Staffordshire

Weather Wise Solutions Limited are damp, mould and condensation specialists based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and we survey and treat homes in Stone and the villages around it. If you've noticed a damp patch, black mould, a musty smell or peeling paint, we'll come and find out why it's happening, tell you what we find in plain English, and quote for the work that's needed. Our surveys are free.

Damp in Stone homes: what we see

Stone is an old market town on the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal, and it has a real mix of homes. Older brick cottages and terraces sit close to the town centre and the canal. Beyond them you'll find interwar and post-war houses, and newer estates on the edges of the town. Each age of house tends to get damp in its own way, so the first job is always to work out what you actually have.

Older brick homes

Many older properties were built without a damp proof course, or with one that has since failed or been bridged by raised ground levels, paths or render. Soft old pointing and weathered brick also let rain in. The result can be a tide-mark low on a wall, salts and crumbling plaster, or a patch that gets worse after wet weather. Those are different problems with different fixes, and a moisture reading and a look outside usually tells them apart.

1930s and later houses

Cavity-wall houses are less prone to rising damp but are more likely to show condensation and mould, particularly in bedrooms, bathrooms and behind furniture on cold outside walls. Gutters, downpipes, window reveals and the junction where an extension meets the house are the usual places for rain to get in.

The problems we treat

• Rising damp: ground moisture travelling up a wall past a failed or bridged damp proof course. We check that it really is rising damp before treating it. See our guide to rising damp.
• Penetrating damp: rain getting through walls, roofs, chimneys or around openings. It often follows a blocked gutter, failed pointing or cracked render. See penetrating damp.
• Condensation and mould: warm, moist air meeting cold surfaces. The cure is usually better ventilation, steady heat and sorting out the moisture source, not just cleaning the mould off. See condensation.
• Timber decay: wet rot and dry rot in floors, joists, skirtings and roof timbers, which need the cause of the moisture dealt with as well as the timber.

The fix for each of these is different, which is why we survey first and recommend second. A wall that's damp because of a leaking gutter won't be cured by injecting a damp proof course, and mould caused by condensation won't be cured by a coat of paint.

How a Weather Wise survey works

A surveyor visits your home, looks at the affected rooms and the outside of the house, and takes moisture readings. They'll check the things that most often cause trouble: gutters and downpipes, pointing and render, ground levels, air bricks, ventilation and heating habits. You get a clear explanation of the cause and a quote for what's needed, with no pressure to go ahead.

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

Why damp shows up in autumn and winter

Most calls about damp come when the weather turns. Wet spells soak exposed walls, cold surfaces let condensation form, and windows stay shut so the moisture has nowhere to go. A few simple habits help while you wait for a survey: keep gutters and downpipes clear, don't dry washing on radiators in closed rooms, run extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and leave a gap between furniture and cold outside walls.

These won't cure a wall that's let water in or a damp proof course that has failed, but they stop condensation making things worse, and they make it easier for a surveyor to see what the underlying problem is.

Nearby areas we cover

As well as Stone, we work across Staffordshire, including Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Eccleshall, Uttoxeter and Cheadle.

Questions homeowners in Stone ask us

How do I know if it's rising damp or condensation?

Rising damp usually shows as a tide-mark low on the wall, with damaged plaster and salts, and doesn't change much with the weather. Condensation shows as mould and wet windows, mostly in cold weather and in rooms where moisture builds up. A survey with a moisture meter settles it.

Is my old brick house more likely to have damp?

Often, yes, but age isn't the cause on its own. Failed pointing, blocked gutters, high ground levels and missing or bridged damp proof courses are the usual culprits, and several can be present together.

Do I need a survey before any work is done?

Yes. Treating the wrong problem wastes money and doesn't stop the damp. A survey finds the cause first.

Can mould be removed without fixing the damp?

It can be cleaned off, but it will come back if the moisture that fed it is still there. We look at why it formed as well as removing it.

Do you cover villages around Stone?

Yes. We work across Staffordshire, so if you're near Stone, ask when you book and we'll confirm.

Book your free damp survey in Stone

Call us on 01782 901101 or send us a message, and we'll arrange a time to look at your home.