Damp-Proofing · Permaguard Accredited

Damp-proofing in Farehamthat treats the cause -not just the wall surface.

Name: SJM Plastering
Address: Fontley Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 6QZ, GB
Telephone: 07907 511080
Price range: ££

Permaguard-accredited rising and penetrating damp treatment. Diagnose with calibrated meters, treat at source with chemical DPC injection or membrane systems, then re-plaster with salt-blocking renovating plaster. Manufacturer-backed system warranty.

Get my damp survey 07907 511080

Permaguard accredited · Manufacturer warranty · Honest diagnosis or no charge

Permaguard
Accredited installer
30+ yrs
Steve on the tools
24 hr
Quote turnaround
Insured
Public liability cover

Overview

What this service is, and who it's for.

What it is

Damp-proofing is the diagnostic and remedial process of identifying why moisture is entering a wall, eliminating the route, and re-plastering with a salt-resistant system so the symptom never returns. Rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation all look similar on the wall and need very different treatments - the most important part of damp work happens before the trowel comes out.

Who it's for

Homeowners with stained skirtings and tide-marks on walls, buyers who've been handed a damp report on a survey, landlords with tenants reporting black mould or musty smells, and renovators stripping plaster only to find soft, salt-bloomed brickwork underneath. Anyone who's been told "you've got rising damp" and quoted a number - without the cause being explained.

When you need it

When skirtings are blistering or rotting, when paint is bubbling along the bottom 1m of a wall, when furniture against an external wall is going mouldy, when there's a salt bloom across the plaster, when a survey has flagged moisture readings, or when you've had damp "treated" before and it's come back inside two years.

Why professional matters

Damp is the trade with the worst reputation in the industry - earned by chancers selling injection cream as a cure-all when the actual problem was a blocked airbrick or a leaking gutter. We diagnose first, treat second. If the cause is external (gutter, render, ground level) we'll tell you and refuse the job until that's fixed. That honesty is why the surveyors send us their referrals.

If ignored

What happens when these problems are left.

Damp that keeps coming back

If your damp's been "fixed" once and returned, the cause was never diagnosed. Re-treatment without re-diagnosis just spends your money twice. We start with the meter and the eyes, not the quote.

Salts ruining fresh decoration

Hygroscopic salts pulled out of brickwork by years of damp will keep ruining any normal plaster and paint on top. Without a renovating-plaster system that blocks salt migration, the wall stains again within months.

Bridged damp-proof courses

External render run down over the DPC, raised flowerbeds, new patios laid above floor level, debris in the cavity - all bridge the original DPC and let moisture climb. We find these before quoting injection.

Condensation misdiagnosed as rising damp

Modern, sealed houses with poor ventilation produce so much condensation that it mimics rising damp on a meter. Injecting a wall with no actual rising damp is wasted money. We'll tell you straight which problem you have.

Hidden timber decay

Long-term damp behind skirting, in floor joists, or in lintel bearings causes wet and dry rot. Treating the damp without checking the timber leaves you with a hidden structural problem. We inspect both.

Our process

How the job actually runs, step by step.

01
Full diagnostic survey
Calibrated moisture meter readings at multiple wall heights, salt analysis where needed, external inspection (ground levels, DPC bridge points, render, gutters, downpipes), and a written report explaining which damp type is actually present.
02
Treatment plan & written quote
Itemised quote naming the products, the warranty terms, the prep work, and any external work needed first. If the cause is external and we can't fix it (a roof, a major drainage problem) we'll refer you to the right trade rather than paper over it.
03
Strip, treat & isolate
Existing plaster hacked off to brick, usually 1m above the highest moisture reading. Chemical DPC injection through the bed joint or membrane system installation, depending on wall type. Any rotten timber cut out and replaced.
04
Renovating plaster system
Salt-blocking renovating plaster base coat (typically Permaguard, Thistle Dri-Coat or equivalent) applied at the specified thickness, then a hard finish skim. This stops salts pulling through and keeps the new finish stable for the long term.
05
Sign-off & system warranty
Manufacturer-backed Permaguard system warranty (typically 20+ years) issued on completion - transferable to future owners of the property.

Benefits

What you actually get.

Honest diagnosis

We tell you which damp type you actually have - and refuse to treat damp that isn't there. Many of our surveys end with "don't spend money, fix the gutter."

Manufacturer-backed warranty

Permaguard system warranties run 20+ years and transfer with the property - useful for resale.

Sale-ready paperwork

Written certification accepted by surveyors and mortgage lenders. Buyers' solicitors stop asking questions.

Salt-blocking re-plaster

Renovating plaster systems prevent the salt-staining recurrence that ruins normal plaster within months.

Integrated trade

Most damp specialists treat the wall then send another plasterer in. We diagnose, treat AND re-plaster - one accountable trade.

Healthier indoor air

Removing damp wall surfaces removes the substrate mould feeds on. Combined with ventilation advice, this fixes the air quality not just the wall.

Detail

The materials, methods and situations.

For homeowners, specifiers and surveyors who want to know exactly what they're commissioning.

Damp types we diagnose

Rising damp (ground moisture climbing through a failed or bridged DPC), penetrating damp (lateral water entry through walls or render), condensation damp (warm moist air meeting cold surfaces), plumbing leak damp (often misdiagnosed as rising), and salt contamination from historic damp episodes. Each needs a different treatment.

Treatment methods

Permaguard chemical DPC injection cream through the mortar bed, electro-osmotic systems on listed buildings where injection isn't appropriate, cavity membrane systems for basement and below-ground rooms, and external waterproof render where penetrating damp comes through exposed elevations.

Variations of the service

Single-wall damp treatment, full ground-floor damp survey and treatment, basement waterproofing with cavity drain systems, pre-purchase damp surveys for buyers, mortgage-lender damp reports, and re-treatment certification for properties where existing damp work has failed.

Situations it applies to

Solid-wall Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Portsmouth and Gosport, 1930s semis in Fareham with original DPCs at the end of life, ground-floor flats in Southampton with raised external ground levels, and basements being converted into living space across Hampshire.

Residential vs. commercial

Residential damp work is room-by-room, dust-controlled, scheduled around the household. Commercial damp work - pubs, listed buildings, churches, schools - often involves heritage consents, more detailed reporting for insurers, and phased treatment to keep premises operational. We hold the same product accreditations either way.

FAQ

Honest answers to the questions we get most.

How much does damp-proofing cost in Fareham?

A single wall (DPC injection plus renovating plaster) typically falls between £900 and £1,800 depending on length and access. A full ground-floor treatment on a 3-bed semi usually runs £3,500–£6,500. All quotes are written, itemised and follow a proper diagnostic survey.

Do you charge for the damp survey?

Surveys are free for straightforward residential properties within our service area. Detailed reports needed for mortgage lenders or solicitors are charged at a fixed fee, agreed before we visit.

How long does the work take?

A single wall is usually 1 day to treat plus 2–3 weeks of drying time before final re-skim. Full ground-floor jobs run 1–2 weeks on site. We schedule the re-plaster around the drying time so the finish lasts.

What's the warranty?

Permaguard damp-proofing work comes with a manufacturer-backed system warranty (typically 20+ years) when installed to spec. The system warranty transfers to future owners.

Will the damp definitely not come back?

If we treat the right cause with the right product, yes - that's what the warranty is for. The exceptions are: new external causes appearing (a new leak, a raised flowerbed) which are outside the original scope, and condensation, which needs ventilation rather than wall treatment.

Can I paint immediately after re-plaster?

No. Renovating plaster needs full drying time (typically 4–6 weeks for the wall to stabilise) before a mist coat. Painting too early traps moisture and ruins the warranty. We give you the exact date you can decorate.

Do I need to move out?

Almost never. We work room-by-room, contain dust, and keep the rest of the house functional. We'll discuss any disruption (water off briefly, kitchen access) before we start.

Will mortgage lenders accept your certificate?

Yes - Permaguard installer certificates are accepted by all major UK lenders and surveyors. We provide the paperwork in a sale pack you can hand straight to a solicitor.

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