Exposed lower brick wall during damp proofing works with damp-proof membrane and moisture meter on a Teesside property

Damp Proofing · Middlesbrough & Teesside

Damp problems in
Middlesbrough?
Diagnosed properly, fixed for good.

Name: A Slater & Son Property Services Ltd
Address: 1 Keasdon Cl, Middlesbrough, TS3 7BD, GB
Telephone: 07966 442128

We diagnose damp before we sell you treatment. Most 'rising damp' in Teesside terraces turns out to be something cheaper to fix - and we'll tell you straight, in writing.

Call 07966 442128 Request a free quote

Free, no-obligation written damp survey
Rising, penetrating & condensation specialists
Long-term guarantees on chemical DPC work
30+ years on Teesside property stock

FreeWritten damp survey

30+ yrsTeesside experience

10 yrTypical DPC guarantee

100%£5m public liability

The service

Diagnose first, treat second - the only honest way to sort damp.

Damp is the most over-sold problem in UK property. A great deal of so-called 'rising damp' in Middlesbrough terraces is actually condensation, a leaking gutter, a failed pointing course, or a bridged cavity - none of which need a chemical injection. We carry out a proper survey before we quote, identify the real cause, and only recommend the work that genuinely solves it. Then we guarantee that work in writing.

Rising damp - chemical DPC injection, plaster removal and salt-resistant re-plaster
Penetrating damp - pointing, render, cavity, gutter and roof diagnosis
Condensation damp - ventilation upgrades, PIV, mould treatment, insulation
Cellar and basement tanking - cementitious slurries and cavity drain membranes
Timber treatment for wet rot, dry rot and woodworm
Full re-plaster, decoration and reinstatement once damp is resolved

What happens if you wait

Damp doesn't sit still. It rots, it stains, it spreads - and then it costs.

Damp on an interior wall is rarely 'just cosmetic'. It's almost always a symptom of water moving through the building, and water moving through a Teesside terrace eats timber, plaster and mortar faster than people expect.

Rotten joist ends

Penetrating damp at the wall plate or solid-floor perimeter slowly rots the ends of floor joists. Spongy floors, cracked tiles and sagging skirtings follow - and replacing structural timber is ten times the cost of fixing the source.

Health and mould

Untreated condensation grows black mould (Aspergillus, Cladosporium) that triggers asthma, eczema and persistent chest infections in children and older adults.

A failed mortgage survey

Any visible damp meter reading above 18% in a homebuyer survey can trigger a mortgage retention. Buyers walk away or knock thousands off the asking price.

Our process

A clear path from your call to job done.

Step 1
Free written survey
We inspect inside and outside - walls, plaster, skirtings, floors, gutters, pointing, render, roof line and ventilation - with calibrated damp meters.
Step 2
Honest diagnosis
You get a plain-English written report telling you whether it's rising, penetrating or condensation, and the cheapest realistic fix for each.
Step 3
Source treatment first
We fix the cause before treating the symptom. That might be a chemical DPC, but just as often it's repointing, a gutter, a flashing or a fan upgrade.
Step 4
Reinstatement done properly
Stripped wall plaster is replaced with the correct salt-resistant render system, finished, primed and decorated - not just left for someone else.
Step 5
Guarantee in writing
Damp treatment work is backed by a long-term written guarantee that survives the sale of the property and stands up to surveyors.

Why homeowners choose us

Real outcomes - not vague promises.

No upsold treatment

We've turned down work that other firms would have invoiced for. If it's condensation, we say so.

Surveyor-ready paperwork

Written reports, before/after photos and guarantees that satisfy mortgage and home-buyer surveyors.

Healthier home

Mould remediation, ventilation upgrades and warmer wall finishes - better air for children, asthmatics and older residents.

Protect the structure

Stopping moisture saves joist ends, lath-and-plaster, lintels and mortar from expensive structural failure.

One trade, full reinstatement

Plaster, decoration, flooring and joinery handled by the same team - no chasing three contractors.

Local stock knowledge

We know how 1900s Linthorpe terraces, 1930s Acklam semis and 1960s Berwick Hills builds behave with damp. That experience costs you less in trial-and-error.

Deep detail

Types of damp, methods we use, and what's right for your property.

Damp isn't one problem - it's three or four very different problems that look similar on the wall. Treatment that works brilliantly for one type does nothing for the others.

Fully insured · £5m public liability

Registered in England & Wales — Company No. 16298499. £5 million public liability cover on every job, plus a 12-month workmanship guarantee across every trade.

Talk to Gary

Rising damp and chemical DPC injection

True rising damp is moisture wicking up from the ground through capillary action in mortar, usually because the original damp-proof course has failed or was never installed. It stops at around 1.0–1.2 metres above floor level, leaves a salt 'tide mark', and reads high on a calibrated meter at low level only. The correct fix is a chemical DPC: silane/siloxane cream is injected into the mortar bed at low level, where it cures into a water-repellent barrier. Contaminated plaster (which holds hygroscopic salts) is hacked off to 1m, replaced with a salt-resistant render and skim, and re-decorated. We guarantee this work for 10 years in writing.

Penetrating damp from outside

Penetrating damp comes through the building envelope - failed pointing, cracked render, blocked or overflowing gutters, slipped tiles, cracked lead flashings, defective window cills, or bridged cavities full of mortar snots. It typically shows as wet patches at any height, often worse after rain and driven by wind direction. We trace the source, fix the external defect (repointing, render patch, gutter clearance and realignment, flashings, cill repair), allow the wall to dry, then reinstate the inside. Treating the inside without fixing the outside is a waste of money - the damp just comes back the next storm.

Condensation and mould (the most common cause)

More than half of the 'damp' we're called to in Teesside is actually condensation: warm, moist indoor air (cooking, showering, drying clothes, breathing) hitting cold wall surfaces and depositing as water. The classic sign is black spotted mould in corners, behind wardrobes, on window reveals and in north-facing bedrooms. The fix is rarely chemical. It's a combination of ventilation (extractor fans correctly sized for the room, trickle vents, a Positive Input Ventilation unit for the whole house if needed), insulation (cold spots and lintels), and behaviour change. We treat the mould safely with fungicidal wash, repaint with anti-mould paint, and explain how to keep it gone.

Cellar and basement tanking

Cellars and basements in older Middlesbrough and Stockton properties were never built to be habitable. To use them as storage, utility or living space, they need to be tanked. We use either a cementitious slurry system (bonded direct to sound masonry) or a cavity drain membrane system with a sump and pump - chosen based on water table, structure and how the room will be used.

Timber treatment - wet rot, dry rot, woodworm

Damp ruins timber. Wet rot is common in window cills, door frames and joist ends. True dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is rarer but far more destructive, spreading hyphae through masonry to find new timber. Active woodworm (Common Furniture Beetle) shows as fresh, sharp-edged exit holes with bore dust. We identify which is which, treat with the right product, replace structurally lost timber with seasoned new section, and guarantee the treatment.

FAQ

Damp Proofing questions, answered straight.

Still unsure? Send us a message or call 07966 442128.

Is the damp survey really free?+

Yes. We survey, write the report and give you the recommendation at no cost and no obligation. We make our money fixing damp, not selling reports.

How long does damp proofing take?+

A typical 3-bedroom terrace chemical DPC and re-plaster on one or two walls takes 2–4 working days. Condensation upgrades (fans, PIV, mould treatment) are usually one day. We give a firm schedule in the quote.

How much does damp proofing cost in Middlesbrough?+

We carry out a completely free on-site survey, diagnose the real cause, and give you a fixed written quote for the total cost. Never a 'starting from' price, never a vague estimate — the quote is what you pay.

Do you guarantee your damp work?+

Yes. Chemical DPC and timber treatment carry a 10-year written guarantee. The guarantee is property-specific and is transferable on sale - useful for mortgage surveys.

Will I have to move out?+

Almost never. We dust-sheet, contain the work area, and keep the kitchen and bathroom usable. Most jobs are completed without you needing to leave the house.

Why is the bottom of my wall always wet?+

It's usually one of three things: a failed DPC (rising damp), a defect outside letting water in (penetrating damp), or condensation on a cold wall. Our survey tells you which, with meter readings to back it up.

Can damp affect a property sale?+

Yes. Any visible damp or high meter reading in a mortgage survey can trigger a retention or a price reduction. Treating it properly with a transferable guarantee solves this.

Will the new plaster crack?+

Not if it's done correctly. Salt-resistant render needs the right mix, correct number of coats and a proper drying time before skim and decoration. Cutting corners here is why people see cracking and salt blooming a year later.

Do you treat mould as well as damp?+

Yes - fungicidal wash, anti-mould primer and paint, and the ventilation upgrades needed to stop it returning.

Do you cover Stockton, Redcar and Hartlepool?+

Yes - damp surveys and treatment across the whole of Teesside, including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Thornaby, Ingleby Barwick, Redcar, Marske, Saltburn, Hartlepool and Darlington.

Related services

Plastering Plumbing Property Maintenance Landlord Maintenance

Areas we cover for Damp Proofing

Middlesbrough Stockton Darlington Hartlepool Redcar Marske Saltburn Thornaby Ingleby Barwick

Sort your damp proofing today - properly, first time.

We answer every call. Honest advice, fair pricing, work that lasts.