Why is the paint on my walls peeling and damp?

What causes paint to peel and walls to go damp?

Where the damp shows on the wall is the best clue to the cause. This table is a guide, not a diagnosis.

What can I check safely?

• Watch the wall after rain. Damp that appears only after rain points to a leak from outside.
• Look at the gutters and downpipes from the ground during rain. Water spilling over the edge or out of a joint onto the wall is a clear sign.
• Check the base of the wall outside. Soil, paving or a flower bed that is higher than the inside floor can push water into the wall.
• Check for a pipe leak. Close every tap in the house and watch the water meter. If it keeps moving, a pipe is leaking somewhere.
• Open windows and use the extractor fan in a bathroom or kitchen, and see whether the damp improves.
• Take dated photos of the wall. They help any contractor price the job.

Do not dry-sand old paint in an older house, because older paints can contain lead. If the damp has mould on it, wear a mask when you are near it.

When should I call someone?

• The damp has lasted for weeks or is spreading.
• The paint peels again after you have repainted.
• The plaster is crumbling or bubbling.
• There is mould on a large area.
• The damp is near a plug point or light switch. Switch that circuit off at the distribution board.
• You suspect damp rising from the ground. Oaks' price list has no rising-damp treatment, so say so when you send photos.

How does Oaks fix damp and peeling paint?

Oaks' price list covers both halves of the job: stopping the water, and repainting. If your photos show the water is coming from a source on the list, the quote can include both.

• Cracks and joints sealed, R150 per m.
• A balcony or parapet waterproofed, R380 per m².
• A leak repaired and resealed, from R2,200 per project.
• Blocked gutters cleaned, from R950 for a single-storey house.
• Walls repainted: R95 per m² inside (2 coats), R105 per m² outside, a single room from R2,500 and a bathroom from R2,000.

1. Send photos of the damp wall and the area around it, and your suburb, on WhatsApp to 081 372 4079 or through the Instant Price form.
2. Oaks sends a fixed price in a quote, valid for 14 days.
3. Oaks books the job within 7 days.
4. When the job is finished you get a photo report.

Not on the list? The price list says to send a photo on WhatsApp for a flat quote. Every Oaks job has a workmanship guarantee, and waterproofing comes with a 5-year warranty. A 50% deposit is paid before work starts and the balance when the job is done.

What does it cost to fix and repaint?

A price marked 'from' is where that kind of job starts. These are northern-suburbs rates. For worked examples, read the painting cost guide and the waterproofing cost guide.