Dealing with water damage

You've probably noticed that it's been a bit wet just recently…

For many parts of the country, the inclement weather has not let up with some areas consistently having rain every day since the new year and others having more rainfall in that short period than they usually receive for the whole year (you can check for the current flood alerts here (for England) and here (for Wales)).

This unusual (albeit increasingly prominent) continuous weather event is a direct result of climate change affecting the usual weather patterns from the polar north and the passage of the jet stream, which combine to channel successive days of rain. No doubt, there will be some who remember, almost with fondness, the dryness of last summer when there were very real problems with reservoirs recording low levels.

Barely a year now goes by without the television news trope of a reporter standing in water that's brimming at the top of their wellies earnestly telling viewers about the devastating effects of the latest flood event, with poor homeowners telling their sad tales of how their homes have been impacted.

While the effects of such extreme flood events are truly devastating, the majority of homes won't be so badly impacted. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you won't have noticed a few problems along the way.

The most common water-related problems at a property are:

Blocked or damaged gutters - this is one of the most obvious problems as evidenced by water pouring down the front of the home. The water cascades down across the brickwork, saturating the material and penetrating through to the internal walls.

Poor drain management - this is particularly obvious where the ground slopes towards the building allowing water to pool at the base of the wall, again allowing moisture to penetrate inside and, at its worst, to affect the foundations.

Broken or missing tiles - with the recent bad weather has come high winds, which means that hard objects can hit the roof and perhaps crack the roof tiles, or it has allowed tiles to slip from their position. As a result water can seep into the internal structure.

Failed flashings - where the roof tiles meet another part of the structure (such as a chimney or a parapet wall), there is flashing (often made of lead for its malleable nature) that protects the joint from rainwater. Where these have perished or have cracked, it means that water is likely to seep into the internal structure.

Failed damp-proof course - the damp-proof course is a membrane along a course of bricks a few centimetres above ground level, which prevents ground moisture from rising through the outer structure. Where this is breached or is absent, sustained water will eventually make its way into the home.

It's important to have a regular maintenance plan that checks all of these potential causes of problems to manage the issue before it becomes critical. Besides any water ingress being unsightly (often appearing as brown staining on the internal paint or wallpaper), it can create health problems as it sets the scene perfectly for black mould to get a hold.

Once you've noticed evidence of the problem (the cascading water from the gutters, dampness on the internal walls, the staining and so on), you need to get it resolved as soon as possible. To avoid fixing the problem will only mean it gets worse - and therefore more expensive not only to fix the base problem but the effects of the impact that it has.

The key ongoing activities are:

Check and clear gutters and drainpipes, especially in the autumn and winter when they are more likely to have leaves and other detritus in them.

Clear any standing water that has collected near the house - and work on a plan to ensure standing water flows away from the property.

Visually check the state of the roof and the flashings for any cracks and missing tiles (if it is safe for you to do so, otherwise get a professional to come in for an assessment).

Check external seals around the doors and windows for signs of wear, and remove and replace if necessary.

Inspect wooden frames - if you have wooden window- and door-frames, inspect them for signs of problems with flaking paint, and strip and repaint if problems are identified.

Check for moss growth on the external walls and the roof for signs of moss (this plant stores a lot of water) that indicates that it has a good source of water to sustain it. This growth should be removed.

If water has seeped through into the home and you've fixed any structural issues that have been caused by it, the unsightly brown stains can be covered up with specialist paints that can then be painted over with standard emulsion. Don't be tempted to cover up the stains if you haven't fixed the cause because the stain will always reassert itself.

When you are buying a home, there are so many things you need to worry about, not the least whether you are buying a "money pit" (a property that requires you to keep shovelling money at to fix any problems).

That is where a building survey gives you that peace of mind and helps to instruct your decision as to whether it's worth buying the home. Your chartered surveyor will inspect all aspects of the property, giving their expert assessment of any issues that they identify - one of the key points will be establishing evidence of damp, past or present, using equipment to measure the level of moisture.

From this, the surveyor will provide a clearly-written report so that you fully understand what you'll be taking on should you want to continue with the purchase.

Surveyor Local connects you to RICS-qualified chartered surveyors who will identify water damage, damp issues and structural problems before you commit to a purchase. A building survey gives you the independent assessment you need to make an informed decision.

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