Penetrating Damp Repairs in Horsham, West Sussex

Unlike rising damp, which creeps up from the ground, penetrating damp (also known as lateral damp) happens when moisture travels horizontally through your walls. Think of your home's exterior like a skin—when your brickwork or render is damaged, it acts like a sponge. In Horsham, our buildings take a fair bit of wind-driven rain. Over time, this pressure forces water through hairline cracks in your render or gaps in your pointing.Have you seen 'tide marks' on your internal walls? These brown or yellow stains are a classic indicator. You might also notice blown plaster, which sounds hollow when you tap it, or even salt crystals forming on the surface. These are hygroscopic salts left behind as the water evaporates, and they're a pain because they continue to attract moisture from the air even on dry days. Identifying these signs early can save you a lot of money and hassle down the road.

There's no point in plastering over a problem if the water is still getting in. That’s why our first job is always to act like a bit of a detective. Often, the culprit is blown render or spalling bricks where the face of the brick has started to flake away due to frost damage. As Approved PRB Systems Contractors, we're experts at identifying these external defects that let the West Sussex weather inside.Sometimes it’s a simple case of repointing the mortar joints or fixing a faulty windowsill that's directing water toward the wall rather than away from it. By sorting the outside first—perhaps with a fresh silicone rendering or a monocouche finish—we make sure the internal repairs actually last. We believe in doing the job once and doing it right, rather than leaving you with another damp patch next winter.

Once we’ve stopped the water from coming in, we need to deal with the damage left behind inside. To do this properly, we usually have to 'hack off' the damp-damaged or salt-contaminated plaster right back to the original brickwork. This is the only way to ensure those nasty salts don't ruin your new decorations. We then apply specialist treatments, including salt-neutralising plaster, to create a fresh, dry base.We know the idea of 'hacking off' plaster sounds messy, but don't worry. We’re fanatical about keeping your home tidy. We take great care to protect your floors and furniture, and we won't leave until the site is spotless. Whether you need a full room skimmed or just a targeted repair, we’ll leave your walls perfectly smooth and ready for paint, so you'd never even know there was a problem.

Why choose Portslade Plastering over a big national firm? Because we know the specific building stock in Horsham and the surrounding 20-mile radius. We’re a local team that prides itself on being reliable, friendly, and transparent with our pricing. We carry £1 million in public liability insurance, so you have complete peace of mind while we’re working on your property.From Victorian restorations to modern apartment blocks, we’ve seen and fixed it all. We aren't here to baffle you with trade jargon or sales pitches; we’re here to give you a straight-talking, honest solution that keeps your home dry and warm. We’ve built our reputation on quality workmanship and the kind of service you'd recommend to your next-door neighbour. After all, word of mouth is everything in a town like Horsham.