People often think that damp proofing is complicated, technical and expensive but in reality this notion is only because many people do not understand the process of damp proofing, until they actually need to install it in their own home. Here we take a look at some of the common questions surrounding damp proofing walls, helping you to understand why you need to do it and how to do it. What is damp? Most people don’t understand exactly what damp walls means. The answer is very simple, moisture penetrating the walls of your home from outside, known as external damp, or moisture building up on the inside of your walls, known as internal damp. Damp is usually identified by dark patches on walls and wallpaper which feel damp to the touch. In order to damp proof walls, you need to understand exactly where the damp is coming from and take action accordingly. What causes damp? Damp can be caused by a number of things. External damp is usually caused by excess moisture in the ground which penetrates your walls. This can be caused by insufficient drainage in the ground surrounding your home, excessive rainfall or flooding. Internal damp is caused by excess moisture in the home which is most commonly caused by condensation and insufficient ventilation. How do I treat damp? There are a number of ways to treat damp. External damp requires a course of damp proofing walls which stops the moisture from penetrating your home. This requires a contractor coming to your home to install it and can be quite costly. Internal damp can be treated by damp proof wallpaper and foil wallpaper. Where can I buy damp proof wallpaper and how does it work? One of the leading damp proof wallpaper makes is Anderton Three in One Damp Proof Foil Paper. The main working component of this wallpaper is a layer of foil behind the paper. This works by creating a barrier on walls, preventing water from penetrating them and therefore stopping the plaster on your walls from becoming saturated with moisture. What else will I need? As well as damp proof wallpaper, you might also want to treat some of the symptoms of damp walls too. There is a great range of Zinsser products like anti-mould paint which can prove useful on your walls, helping to provide a cleaner, healthier home. So now that you understand damp walls a little better, it’s time to take action to help prevent them in your home.