About Halton Dampcourse

Halton Dampcourse has been established since 1970, developing a reputation as a reliable provider of damp-proofing and timber treatments to domestic and commercial customers in a wide area. This includes Merseyside, North Wales, North Staffs, parts of Shropshire, West and Mid Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Halton Dampcourse is and has been an approved contractor to several organisations, references can be supplied on demand;

• Preservation Society (details of listed buildings available by request)
• Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI)
• several breweries
• The Grosvenor Estates (Duke of Westminster)
• The Crown Estates (managed by Carters, Jonas and Law for the Crown)
• Housing Associations
• local councils

Damp-proofing of buildings was unknown in the 19th century and only became commonplace after the turn of the century. Buildings dating from before then are unlikely to have been constructed with any kind of mechanism to prevent moisture from being drawn up into the walls and floors through capilliary action. Early 20th century buildings are likely to have imperfect systems and age will not have improved their efficiency.

Modern buildings are required by Building Regulations to have a damp-proof course (DPC) in the walls and a damp-proof membrane in the floors to prevent water from being absorbed upwards. Older buildings, whether through pre-dating DPC's, or through failure of a primitive DPC, are likely to suffer from damp and condensation.

Changes in the ground level after a building's construction can also cause problems, as can faults in drainage systems, either in the building itself or in adjacent properties. All of this can result in mould forming and in moisture running down the walls and windows. The moisture can also be drawn up into any timbers that are resting on/in the unprotected walls and this can cause wet rot.