Penetrating Damp Repairs in Brighton And Hove, Brighton and Hove

Have you noticed suspicious patches appearing on your wallpaper after a heavy downpour? Or perhaps there’s a stubborn musty smell in the spare room that just won't shift? These are classic signs of penetrating damp. You might see 'tide marks'—those yellowish or brown stains—or notice that your paint is starting to bubble and flake away. In some cases, you might even see 'hygroscopic salts' appearing as a white, crusty powder on the surface. These salts are particularly cheeky because they actually attract moisture from the air, keeping your walls damp even when it’s sunny outside. If your plaster feels 'blown' or sounds hollow when you tap it, it’s likely that the moisture has already done its damage.

In a seaside city like Brighton and Hove, your property’s external shell takes a real beating. Penetrating damp usually happens because of a failure on the outside of the building. It could be cracked render, porous brickwork, or old mortar that’s crumbled away—what we call 'failed pointing'. As approved PRB Systems contractors, we don't just patch over the problem. We look at the root cause. Sometimes that means render repairs to seal up cracks, or it might involve specialist external waterproofing. We’ve spent years working on local properties, so we know exactly where the weak spots tend to be. Once the outside is watertight, we can then turn our attention to making the inside look brand new again.

Fixing the leak is only half the battle. If damp has been sitting in your walls for a while, the old plaster is likely contaminated with salts and needs to go. This is where the 'messy work' happens, but don't worry—we’re famous for being clean and tidy. We’ll carefully perform the 'hacking off' process, removing the damaged plaster back to the original brickwork. We then treat the area and replaster using specialist materials designed to block salt migration. Our goal is to leave you with a perfectly smooth, dry wall that's ready for decorating. We treat your home with respect, using plenty of dust sheets and ensuring we leave the place spotless when we're done.

Why choose a local team like Portslade Plastering? Because we live and work in the same community as you. We aren't a faceless national chain; we're a dedicated crew of Sussex tradespeople with over a million pounds in public liability insurance. We understand the specific challenges of Brighton and Hove building stock, from Victorian terraces to contemporary flats. We pride ourselves on being honest and transparent—if you don't need a massive, expensive treatment, we’ll tell you. We’re here to provide practical, long-term solutions that protect your property’s structural integrity without any hidden surprises.