End of Winter Damp Audit: Getting Your Property Ready for Spring
By the time February arrives, winter has done its work on Midlands buildings. Months of cold, rain, frost, and temperature cycling have stressed every element of the external envelope, and any deficiencies in the building fabric will typically have made themselves known. Now — before spring redecoration and the optimistic habit of painting over damp patches — is the ideal time to carry out a methodical audit of what your property has told you this winter.
This post is a guide to carrying out that audit yourself, and to understanding when the findings warrant a professional independent survey.
Walk the External Envelope
Start outside. Work around the full perimeter of the property and look for the following:
Gutters and downpipes. Look for any sections of gutter sitting out of alignment or with visible debris. Check downpipe outlets at ground level — are they discharging freely to a drain, or is water backing up? Check the condition of gutter joints and brackets. After a full winter, any failing sections will often be stained or have moss growth below them.
Pointing. Look at the mortar between bricks at low level, at the corners of the building, and around window and door reveals. Deteriorated pointing feels sandy or crumbly and may be missing in sections. This is a common entry point for driving rain.
Chimney stacks. From ground level (binoculars are useful here), check the condition of the chimney pot, the flaunching (the mortar cap around the pot base), and the lead or mortar flashings at the base of the stack. Missing or cracked flaunching, lifted flashings, and open joints are all potential entry points.
Airbricks. Check all airbricks are present, unobstructed, and undamaged. Count them — particularly on the front and rear elevations if you have a suspended timber floor.
Ground levels. Check that external ground levels are at least 150mm below the damp-proof course level. Flower borders, soil build-up, and newly laid hard surfaces can all bridge the DPC and allow ground moisture access to the wall above.
Inspect the Roof Space
If safe and practicable, inspect your roof space. In February, it should be cold — but look for:
Signs of water ingress. Staining on the underside of the sarking felt, water marks on timber, or wet debris are signs of active or recent water ingress.
Condensation damage. Black mould on the underside of rafters and on sarking felt is usually condensation rather than a leak — it typically presents in a diffuse pattern rather than concentrated around a single point.
Insulation condition. Loft insulation that has become compressed, damp, or is missing from sections loses its thermal effectiveness and increases the risk of condensation at ceiling level below.
Survey Each Room Internally
Work through the property room by room and note:
- Any new or changed damp patches or staining on walls and ceilings
- Mould growth — where it is, how extensive, and whether it was present before winter
- Any musty odours that weren’t present in summer
- Floor coverings that are lifting, soft, or discoloured at perimeters
- Skirting boards or timber that appears swollen, discoloured, or soft
What to Do with Your Findings
If your audit reveals problems — and in many Midlands properties it will — the next step is to understand the cause before spending money on remediation. This is where an independent damp survey adds value. A thorough inspection using moisture meters, thermal imaging, and an understanding of construction type and moisture pathways can distinguish between causes that have very different remedies.
Spring is the best time to carry out most external remedial works. Commissioning a survey now gives you the information you need to instruct contractors with confidence and specificity.
I carry out independent damp surveys across the Midlands. If your winter audit has raised concerns, get in touch to discuss what an inspection would involve.
Richard Bull MISSE is an independent damp and timber surveyor based in the Midlands.