Our kitchen wall has damp patches which are getting worse but I've no idea what is causing it or who to call to check it out, a plumber or builder?

Help!

Osa, August 2008

It sounds obvious but the damp is coming from somewhere. Room above - guttering outside - condensation from inside - do you open a window when cooking or boiling? Could be a pin-hole in a pipe but even a tiny hole will soon have a small stream running down the wall and a puddle on the floor.

If the damp patches are all in the same localised area it may well be caused by moisture from an external source - is it a party wall to the house next door? If so what is the room used for - perhaps they have a leak? Are the damp patches restricted to a certain height either above or below a certain level? Are they in plain view or behind an appliance?

Most damp is caused by condensation - warm moist air against a cold surface - cure with better ventilation and a little bit of heating.

Richard Buxton, September 2008

Get in touch with your local authority for a list of tradesmen all councils are on the internet so type in you council name followed by .gov.uk or google search it. Pick a builder to have a look and if it's a plumbers job he would either be in plumbing or have one on his book. My guess is if the walls aren't saturated, bad ventilation which a good quality extractor fan to outside would cure. It's cured mine.
Of course if the walls are saturated and getting worse it could well be a leaking water pipe burried in the wall, sustaining pin hole/joint leaks.
Sorry can't be any more helpful.

Rob, September 2008