Learn how to get rid of damp in your bedroom

In this article we will be looking at how to get rid of damp in your bedroom, as well as identifying what has caused damp to occur.

Damp can happen in any room of your house, but there are certain places where it is more common.

Obvious examples are bathrooms and kitchens. Both rooms tend to produce a lot of steam from household tasks, such as washing and cooking.

After the steam is produced, it needs to go somewhere. If the room is not properly ventilated, then the moist air condenses on cold surfaces and results in condensation.

When condensation is created over long periods of time, it will eventually result in damp and mould.

When it comes to your bedroom, you will not be performing as many household tasks. However, the room will still produce a lot of moisture. This is mainly due to bodily functions, such as breathing and sweating.

According to dreams.co.uk the average person sleeps for 26 years in their lifetime. Considering the average lifespan of a human is approximately 79 years, this is a huge amount of time.

It is essentially 1/3 of your entire life.

This 26 year of sleep translates into roughly 8 hours per day spent in your bedroom.

Whilst sleeping, you are constantly producing moisture via bodily functions (mainly sweating and breathing). These processes alone, can provide a surprisingly high amount of moisture. If this is not removed from the air, then it will settle on surfaces as condensation.

Condensation is the most common form of damp in bedrooms. However, you should also consider other issues, such as penetrating damp and even roof leaks.

These types of external defects are also quite common and are regular causes of damp in bedrooms.

What causes damp on bedroom ceilings?

Whenever damp is present, you will need to go through a process of elimination to identify the source. The first thing to consider is its location.

If the damp is present on your bedroom ceiling, you should consider the most common causes of damp before you decide on a solution. Usually there are 4 potential causes of damp on a bedroom ceiling. These can be seen below:

• Condensation – This is mainly a result of moisture created by bodily functions, such as respiration and perspiration.
  
  
• Leaking roof – Due to the location of the damp (your ceiling) a leaking roof is the next most common cause. This could be the result of damaged or slipped tiles. As well as damage to pointing and flashing on your roof.
  
  
• Penetrating damp – If the damp is in the ceiling, then penetrating damp through the walls is less common. However, it could be the result of damp penetrating the building above the ceiling.
  
  
• Burst or leaking pipes – The last potential cause is a result of leaking pipes.

Identifying what is causing damp in your ceiling

Now you know the potential causes of damp on a bedroom ceiling, it is time to discover which one is causing the issue.

Condensation

Condensation is the most common type of damp in a bedroom. Also, it is quite different to the other three.

Damp caused by condensation is produced internally. It tends to develop over time and is less likely to cause damp patches. Instead, moisture in the air settles on surfaces. This is usually in small amounts, so the wall rarely becomes saturated.

Overtime condensation will result in black mould, which if left untreated can spread and get worse over time. Black mould is usually the reason condensation is identified as an issue.

You should also look out for things like windows steaming up. This is a clear indicator that the room is poorly ventilated and is suffering with excess moisture that needs removing.

Some common ways of doing this include:

• Regularly opening doors and windows
• Using a fan or extractor fan to assist with air circulation.
• Extracting moisture with a dehumidifier

These simple steps alone, can have a big impact on the level of condensation in a room.

Not condensation

On the other hand, you may identify damp patches on your bedroom ceiling. If this is the case, it is more likely that water is somehow penetrating from outside the room.

The first thing to do is rule out leaking pipes. If you can access the area above your bedroom, via a loft or attic, then you should check for pipes that could be causing the issue.

Once you have ruled out plumbing issues, you now know that the damp is coming from outside. If this is the case, you should perform a visual inspection.

Go outside and examine the area around the damp. Check the walls and roof for obvious defects. These could include things like:

• Damaged bricks
• Missing, worn, or damaged pointing
• Damage to external renders
• Slipped or cracked roof tiles
• Pointing issues on ridge tiles
• Damage to flashing on the roof

Once you have identified an issue, you can decide how to deal with it. This will usually involve a DIY solution or hiring a professional.

Due to these defects being at height, it is more likely that you will want to hire a professional roofer or builder/handyman to help you rectify the problem.

Also, if you fail to identify the problem, you will again need the help of a professional. If it is not an obvious defect, the likelihood at this point, is there will be an issue with your roof.

If you do need to hire a professional roofer, we recommend comparing multiple quotes from local professionals. This will help you get the best price. Plus, it can also help you to avoid overpaying for unnecessary work that is not required.

For example, one company could recommend replacing a couple of tiles and easily fixing the issue. Another may recommend a new roof. Obviously, the latter will be far more expensive.

Save money on quotes

To get multiple quotes we recommend using an online comparison service. Our favourite is a service called Bark.

Bark will get you up to 5 quotes from local professionals. This allows you to get the best price and compare the local businesses. 

Each contractor will also have their own profile, with qualifications and reviews. This means you can be sure you are hiring a qualified professional.

Also, because the businesses are competing for the same quote, prices tend to be much more competitive. This means they can be quite a bit cheaper than going direct

Click here to get 5 local roofing quotes now

What causes damp on bedroom walls?

For bedroom walls you should carry out the same checks you did for a damp ceiling. The main difference here is there are less potential causes.

You can limit your search down to two possible problems:

1. Condensation
2. Penetrating damp

If there is little or no saturation to surfaces, but there is visible black mould, it is more likely condensation is the issue.

If on the other hand, there are damp patches, then it is time to go outside and investigate again. You will be looking for the same things as before:

• Damaged bricks
• Missing, worn, or damaged pointing
• Damage to external renders
• You should also check around windows for damaged or worn sealant.

Once you have identified the problem, you will again have a decision. Will you do the work yourself? Or will you hire a professional?

If you do decide to hire a professional, we would usually recommend an experienced damp proofing expert over a handyman.

Whilst most of these jobs could probably be fixed by a handyman, a damp expert may be a better choice. This is due to an extra level of knowledge relating to penetrating damp.

You are less likely to have the problem returning if it is diagnosed and repaired by a damp proofing professional.

Again, we would recommend Bark for hiring this type of contractor. You should be able to find someone with good reviews and save some money on the work.

Click here to get 5 quotes from local damp experts

Conclusion

Damp in bedrooms is very common. In most cases condensation will be the issue, and this means fixing the problem is often quite easy.

By simply increasing airflow and ventilation you should be able to dramatically reduce moisture in the air.

If you have ruled out condensation, the tips in this article should help you to identify more serious issues. From here, you can decide if you will carry out repairs DIY or hire in a professional.