When you pictured your interior design, it probably didn’t involve blistering paint, flaking walls and damp patches. It’s unlikely to have included a musty smell that can’t be masked by even the most fragrant scented candles.
Damp walls and ceilings can affect any home, be it a centuries-old period property or a newly-built one. It’s a widespread issue in UK homes.
But before you reach for more paint to cover up the problem, it’s worth finding out where that moisture’s coming from. It’s important to tackle the cause and reduce the risk of the damp recurring. Applying the right paint will help your walls dry out and remain that way.
Here’s how to give your damp walls and ceilings a fresh start.
What causes damp walls and ceilings?
Let’s start with the causes of damp walls and ceilings. Sometimes that can be glaringly obvious. A leaking gutter or washing machine can be hard to miss. Other times, you need to do a little detective work.
The common culprits are:
- condensation
- leaks
- penetrating damp
- rising damp
Condensation
Cooking dinner, enjoying a hot shower and drying washing indoors all release moisture into the air. When that steam or warm, moist air meets a cold wall or ceiling, it can turn into water droplets, damp patches and even black mould. Ventilation’s the way to avoid, or at least reduce, this. Open your windows, use extractor fans or dehumidifiers to let that moisture escape.
Leaks
A leaking pipe or poorly sealed bath or shower can leave its mark on your interior walls and ceilings. This water tends to travel, so may not originate at the site of the watermark or stain. You’ll need to track it back to its source and apply decent sealant.
Penetrating damp
This happens when water finds its way into your home from outside. Cracked render or brickwork, overflowing gutters or a leaking roof can all let rainwater in. If your damp patch gets worse after wet weather, the issue may start from your roof or external walls.
Rising damp
Rising damp can occur where a damp proof course is missing or damaged, allowing ground moisture to travel up the wall. If your damp patches look like tidemarks or salt deposits (efflorescence) on ground floor interior walls, just above skirting board level, it could be rising damp.
What about mould? That’s a fungus that grows where there’s enough moisture. It’s a sign that something needs attention. That could be trapped moisture or damp.
These clues are starting points, but you may need to seek expert advice. A proper diagnosis can save you plenty of decorating headaches later.
Check the telltale signs there’s damp in your walls
What is the best paint for damp walls?
First things first, even a lovely new coat of paint can’t fix your damp problem. Painting over damp surfaces before tackling the cause can leave you with bubbling, peeling paint and another decorating job.
Deal with the source of moisture, treat any existing mould and let the surface dry sufficiently. Only then, can you start doing the fun bit of picking paint colours. It’s important you use the right type of paint, too.
Breathable paint
Your walls and ceilings need to breathe. They have to let out moisture. Think of breathable paint as a finish that gives water vapour a way out rather than trapping it in the wall. This is particularly true of period properties built from traditional materials.
Breathable paints tend to contain fewer chemical nasties than many standard paints. They often result in lower VOCs which helps to improve indoor air quality.
Our Claypaint is highly breathable, low VOC (trace levels), with no horrible smells and no nasty emissions. Its high clay content also helps it absorb and release moisture as humidity changes. It’s lovely to decorate with too. Claypaint gives walls and ceilings a soft, ultra flat matt finish. And there’s over 80 colours to choose from!
What is anti-damp paint?
Anti-damp paint may sound like your ideal solution. It creates a damp seal; a durable, waterproof barrier that stops moisture from seeping through to the surface.
The catch? It doesn’t actually fix the underlying damp problem itself. Without tackling the cause, you’re likely to find yourself dealing with the same problem again. And the waterproof barrier that it creates isn’t breathable. What’s more, damp-proof paint’s often solvent-based, containing an array of chemicals. You’re better off treating the damp and then applying a breathable paint.
What is anti-mould paint?
Anti-mould paint’s designed to discourage mould from growing on your painted surface. How? Some anti-mould paints contain biocides, including fungicides, to discourage mould growth on the dried paint surface. Others, including certain mineral paints, have a naturally high pH value that deters mould.
The effectiveness of anti-mould paint can reduce over time. Again, the better long term solution is to tackle the underlying cause of the mould. Simply painting over mould leaves the problem waiting underneath. Once the damp issue’s fixed, you can treat the mould with a suitable mould cleaner. Finally, use a breathable paint to prevent trapped moisture from causing mould growth again.
What is anti-condensation paint?
Anti-condensation paint aims to make it harder for water droplets to form on interior walls and ceilings. Some of these paints add a thin insulating layer to help the surface stay slightly warmer.
Anti-condensation paint can offer limited help, but it won’t deal with rising damp, water ingress or a leaking pipe. And if you want a paint colour other than white, you may be disappointed. For a more decorative finish, you’ll need to apply a topcoat in your preferred colour.
As an alternative, try breathable paint which can help minimise condensation. It encourages the absorption and release of moisture. Good ventilation and appropriate heating also give moisture somewhere to go.
Breathable paint really is the better long-term solution. Our most breathable paint for interior walls and ceilings is Claypaint, a water-based formula. Our Claypaint’s hygroscopic (moisture absorbing) properties make it ideal for damp walls. It allows walls to breathe and helps reduce the occurrence of condensation. Less condensation means less chance of mould and mildew which is a win-win.
Considerations for different types of homes
Period properties and older properties
Older homes were often built with solid brick or stone walls, lime mortar and lime plaster. These materials absorb and release moisture, helping the building dry when conditions allow. Some paints (like standard emulsion or ‘plastic paints’) restrict this movement, trapping moisture and contributing to damp.
That’s why choosing breathable paint matters so much, particularly over lime plaster. Claypaint allows water vapour to pass through, making it a good partner to lime plaster. Check your existing coats of paint and plaster too, as they can stop moisture escaping. And if damp keeps coming back, ask a specialist in traditional buildings to investigate before you start painting.
Modern builds
It’s not only old buildings that can get damp. Condensation can easily become a problem in modern homes too. Double or triple glazing, cavity walls and loft insulation all help conserve heat in modern homes, but they can trap moisture inside too. Add to that tumble dryers, simmering pans and hot showers, and there can be plenty of damp air inside your home. Moisture can quickly build up if ventilation isn’t in place to release it. A simple open window can make a positive impact.
Breathable paints also tend to contain low VOCs, which contribute to better indoor air quality. In contrast, many modern paints contain pigments, binders and solvents with nasty chemicals in them.
Our Claypaint has virtually zero VOCs and has achieved the Eurofins Air Comfort Gold accreditation, making it ideal for asthma and allergy sufferers too.
Take your time to treat damp walls and ceilings
If you’re plagued by damp walls and ceilings, you’re not alone. It’s a common issue in UK homes, both traditional and contemporary. Tempting as it may be to opt for a quick fix and paint over it, you’re likely to be faced by the same problem before long.
It pays to take the time to find the cause of the damp. Is it condensation, rising damp, penetrative damp or a leak? What’s behind the mould, mildew and damp patches? Once you’ve fixed the underlying issue, and treated any mould, then you can paint over it.
But don’t pick up your standard emulsion paint or masonry paint. Look for a breathable paint that allows moisture to escape rather than build up behind it.
For interior walls and ceilings, our highly breathable Claypaint helps your walls to absorb and release moisture. It’s available in over 80 colours and gives a soft, ultra matt finish.
For external walls, our Silicate Masonry Paint is also highly breathable as well as being durable and weather resistant.
