Damp and mould help inYork

York has timber-framed houses older than most towns, Georgian brick inside the walls, Victorian terraces in Clifton and South Bank, and large post-war estates beyond. Many older buildings are listed, and the right repair for them is often different from what a modern house needs.

Old brick and timber walls were built with lime and soft materials that let moisture move through them. Cement render, plastic paints and injected damp courses can trap water and cause the decay they were meant to stop. Is it really rising damp? is worth reading before agreeing to any treatment on an old York house, and the council's conservation officers should be asked before work on a listed building.

Weather, ground and water in York

York sits where the Ouse and the Foss meet, and flooding is part of local life. Water that has come into a home in a flood is a different problem from everyday damp: walls, floors and timbers soak right through and need slow, careful drying. York is also one of the drier parts of Yorkshire, so in many homes the main damp problem is condensation.

What to check first

If the home has flooded, get it dried and checked before redecorating. If not, look at whether the damp follows the weather or the way rooms are used, and whether anything modern has been put on an old wall.