Aigburth, mostly L17 with parts of L19, has many large Victorian houses, a lot of them with cellars and many divided into flats, alongside rows of Edwardian terraces. The damp we see here is often about the building itself: moisture in cellars, leaks travelling between flats, cold high-ceilinged rooms and old timbers that have stayed wet for too long. We find the source, explain it plainly and give a written quote.
Cellars under large period houses
Most Victorian villas around Sefton Park were built with a cellar for coal and storage. Those walls sit against the soil, so a degree of dampness is to be expected. Problems start when the cellar is used for storage of things that rot, when a gully or drain outside is leaking against the wall, or when the owner wants to turn it into a usable room. We look at where water is coming in, whether it is constant or follows rain, and what you want to use the space for. Our cellar damp proofing page explains cavity drain membranes, sumps and tanking in more detail.
Old cellars sometimes contain boards or coatings that may hold asbestos. We do not disturb anything suspected until it has been tested by a licensed specialist.
Converted flats: when damp crosses from one home to another
A big house turned into four or five flats has shared roofs, gutters, soil pipes and party floors. That means the stain on your ceiling may start in someone else’s bathroom, or in a gutter nobody thinks they own. In these buildings we spend time tracing the route the water takes and recording it, so the freeholder, landlord or managing agent can see what needs fixing and where. If you rent, our letting agent damp services page covers how we report findings to agents with photos.
Flats also suffer badly from condensation. A ground-floor or basement flat can be cold and shaded, while a top-floor flat in the roof space may have little insulation and small windows. Neither has much air moving through it, so moisture from cooking and showers stays put.
Tall rooms, cold walls
High ceilings and big sash windows are lovely, but they take a lot of heating. When a room is only warmed now and then, the thick solid walls stay cold and mould appears high in the corners or around the window reveals. This is not anyone’s fault; it is how these buildings behave. Better extraction, a low steady background heat and attention to the window area usually make a difference, and we tailor the advice to how you live in the home.
Old timbers and rot
Large Victorian houses have plenty of timber: suspended floors, skirtings, window frames, roof timbers and joists built into damp walls. Where a leak has gone unnoticed for years, wet rot can set in, and in some cases dry rot, which is more serious because it can spread through masonry towards dry wood. The most important step is to stop the moisture. Affected timber is then cut out and replaced. Read our guides to wet rot repair and dry rot treatment before you start lifting boards.
Close by
We also work through Toxteth, where many large houses are also divided into flats, and down to Garston near the river. For an overview of everything we handle, visit our page on damp and mould services across Merseyside, or start with our approach to professional mould removal.
Damp cellar or mould in your Aigburth flat?
Ring 07777 659786 and say whether the property is a house or a flat, and whether it is rented. We will call you back to talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
Is a damp cellar normal in an old Aigburth house?
Some dampness is common, because below-ground walls hold back moisture from the soil. Whether that matters depends on how you use the space. A cellar used for storage may only need better ventilation and dry storage, while a habitable room usually needs a waterproofing system designed in line with BS 8102.
The flat above has a leak and it is coming through my ceiling. Who sorts it?
The leak itself has to be stopped in the flat above first, which may involve the other occupier, a landlord or a managing agent. We can identify where the water is coming from and write that up with photos, and then deal with the drying out, mould treatment and plaster repairs in your flat. For questions about liability, speak to a solicitor or the council.
How can I tell dry rot from wet rot?
Wet rot stays where the timber is wet and the wood often looks dark and soft. Dry rot can spread across masonry, often with white cotton-wool-like growth, grey strands and rust-coloured dust. You cannot always be sure by eye, so if you find either, call us rather than disturbing it.
Can you treat damp without damaging original features?
We try to. On older solid-wall houses we look at breathable, lime-based approaches where they suit the wall, and we avoid materials that trap moisture. Cornices and decorative plaster are noted at the visit, and any work that could affect them is discussed before it starts.
Do you work in L19 as well as L17?
Yes. Aigburth runs into parts of L19, and we cover the whole area, along with Garston, Toxteth and the rest of south Liverpool.