Do you need to remove the plaster?

Not always. Salt-contaminated or unsound plaster may need removal. We agree the extent after inspection; sound plaster does not automatically need stripping.

Is lime plaster better for damp walls?

It can suit some traditional solid walls, but does not fix the source and is not right for every background. We consider construction and cause before specifying lime.

Can you fix damp in a basement or cellar?

Below-ground ingress may need waterproofing rather than a damp-proof course or plaster repair. See our basement tanking service; the system depends on structure and use.

How much does damp proofing cost?

Cost depends on diagnosis, area, access, removal and finish. We price after a survey and agreed scope.

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Our Specialisms

Damp Proofing London

Damp marks are a symptom, not a diagnosis. Choice Finishes investigates moisture in London homes before recommending work, distinguishing rising damp from leaks, rain penetration and condensation. We identify what the building and the evidence suggest, explain the options, then carry out appropriate repairs and plastering. Where an injected damp-proof course is justified, it is considered as one possible part of the solution—not a default treatment. Our work includes salt-contaminated plaster removal, compatible replastering and breathable lime finishes for period properties.

Exposed cellar brickwork before treatment, London — Exposed cellar brickwork before treatment; the photograph alone does not diagnose the cause of damp.

Types of damp we treat

Rising damp is moisture moving up through masonry from the ground. Low-level marks prompt investigation but do not prove it; salts, leaks and ground levels can look similar.

Penetrating damp is water entering through the building envelope. Defective pointing, render, gutters, roofs or openings may let rain in. Replastering alone cannot stop the entry.

Condensation forms when indoor moisture meets a cold surface. Ventilation, heating and insulation can contribute; it may coexist with other defects and needs distinguishing from water entering through the fabric.

Why we diagnose the cause first

Moisture pattern considered alongside the building's construction and condition.
Possible sources: ground moisture, rain entry, plumbing leaks, ventilation and condensation.
Whether plaster is salt-affected, unsound or suitable to retain.
Compatibility of repairs and finishes with period or solid-wall construction.
Whether a damp-proof course, another repair or further investigation is appropriate.

Choice Finishes

Get a quote for your project

Send us your brief and we can advise on the right system, finish and next steps.

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Our process

We explain the diagnosis and scope before work starts. Treatment follows the cause and condition of the wall.

Survey

Review symptoms, construction and relevant history on site.

Diagnose

Consider moisture sources and explain when further investigation is needed.

Fix the cause

Agree the cause-related repair and any specialist work needed before plastering begins.

Strip

Remove salt-contaminated or unsound plaster where inspection shows it is necessary.

Treat

Carry out the specified treatment, including an injected course only where appropriate.

Replaster

Apply a compatible plaster build-up, using breathable lime where the construction requires it.

Finish

Complete the surface and advise on suitable decoration and drying before painting.

Choice Finishes

Talk to us about your specification

We work with homeowners, architects, designers and contractors across London.

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Damp in period homes: why lime matters

Many older London houses have solid walls that manage moisture differently from modern cavity construction. Dense cement or unsuitable gypsum finishes can restrict drying; a compatible lime plaster allows moisture to evaporate and helps the wall dry out.

Lime does not repair a leak or suit every wall. We consider the fabric and moisture source before recommending a build-up. See lime plastering in London.

Salt-contaminated plaster and injected damp-proof courses

Moisture can carry salts into plaster. If it is contaminated or unsound, we agree what to remove, prepare the substrate and replaster to suit the wall. Scope depends on site conditions, not a photograph.

An injected damp-proof course may suit a wall where evidence supports rising damp. It will not resolve rain, condensation or a plumbing leak, so we consider it only when diagnosis supports it.

Basements and cellars

Below-ground rooms need an approach suited to water pressure, structure and intended use. A cellar may need waterproofing rather than an injected course or plaster-only repair. Read about basement tanking; a survey establishes whether a tanking or drained system is relevant.

Where we work

We undertake damp investigation and associated plastering across London, including:

North London — Finchley, Barnet, Highgate, Hampstead, Muswell Hill, Islington and Hackney.
West London — Kensington, Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith, Notting Hill and Ealing.
South London — Clapham, Balham and Wandsworth.

A site survey helps establish the building and scope.

How damp proofing is priced

Cost depends on cause, area, access, plaster removal and finish. We price after a site survey and agreed scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions we hear from clients, architects, and designers.

Low-level marks do not prove rising damp; leaks, penetrating water and salts can look similar. We consider the wall and possible sources before recommending treatment.