Damp proofing · Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire
Damp proofing in Burton upon Trent: 28m² of Damp Walls Stripped, Membraned and Replastered in 5 Days
In March 2026, EcoTrust Roofing & Insulation Ltd carried out damp proofing on an empty Victorian terraced house in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, where damp had spoiled the plaster in the utility room, around the front room chimney breast and in a back bedroom corner. The team stripped about 28m² of wall to brick, salt neutralised it, fitted a damp proof membrane and replastered, injected a new damp proof course at the back and treated 25m² of rear brickwork with masonry protection cream. The 5-day job is covered by a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee.
The problem
The owner of an empty Victorian terrace in Burton upon Trent asked us to look at damp before the house was used again. Our surveyor found damp plaster in the utility room, on the chimney breast in the front room as you walk in, and in a corner of the back extension bedroom.
Outside, the back wall needed a new damp course from the back door to the kitchen door to keep rising damp away from the new kitchen, where the plaster was sound but reading on the higher side of dry. The rear brickwork needed protecting from rain, and 9m of lead flashing on the extension was letting water into the bedroom corner, so we advised the owner to have their roofer renew it before we treated that wall.
What we did
- Survey: moisture readings in every affected room and a written plan for the walls, the outside brickwork and the extension corner.
- Stripped about 28m² of plaster back to brick: 10m² in the utility room, 12m² around the front room chimney breast and 6m² in the back bedroom corner, from the radiator to the plug socket.
- Treated the bare brickwork with salt neutraliser to stop the old damp salts pulling moisture back into the new finish.
- Fixed a damp proof membrane over the treated walls with plaster plugs and sealed the joins, then replastered and skimmed.
- Injected a new chemical damp proof course along the back wall from the back door to the kitchen door, so no rising damp reaches the kitchen.
- Cleaned the rear brickwork and applied Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream over about 25m², cleared the gutter, patched 3m of render at the front and renewed the ceiling in the middle bedroom.
The result
About 28m² of damp wall across three rooms has been stripped, membraned and replastered, ready for decorating. The back wall has a new injected damp course and the rear brickwork is now water repellent. The work took 5 days.
With the walls treated inside and the brickwork protected outside, the causes have been dealt with as well as the plaster. The damp proofing is covered by a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee.
Damp proofing in Burton upon Trent: questions we get asked
What causes damp in an old Victorian terrace?
Usually a mix of things: an old or missing damp course, worn brickwork soaking up rain, and failing flashing or gutters. In this Burton upon Trent terrace we found all three, so we treated the walls inside and dealt with the brickwork, damp course and gutter outside rather than just replastering over the problem.
Why fit a damp proof membrane instead of just replastering?
Old brickwork holds salts and moisture that will spoil new plaster. A membrane fixed over salt neutralised brick keeps that moisture away from the finish. On this Burton upon Trent job we membraned about 28m² across three rooms, then replastered and skimmed, so the walls stay dry and ready to decorate.
What does masonry protection cream do?
It soaks into the brick and makes it water repellent while still letting the wall breathe, so driving rain stops getting in. At this Burton upon Trent house we cleaned the rear brickwork and applied Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream to about 25m² after the new damp course went in.
Can you damp proof a rental property between tenants?
Yes, and an empty house is the easiest time to do it. This Burton upon Trent terrace was vacant, so our team could strip, treat and replaster three rooms in 5 days without working around anyone. You get a written scope first and a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee when it is done.
Do you cover the rest of Burton upon Trent and Staffordshire?
Yes. We carry out damp proofing across Burton upon Trent, including Stretton, Branston, Winshill and Barton-under-Needwood, and across Staffordshire and most of England from our Manchester and Sevenoaks offices. Book a free survey online or call 0800 870 8086 and we will confirm a date for you.
Need damp proofing in Burton upon Trent or nearby?
EcoTrust Roofing & Insulation Ltd surveys for free and gives you a written price before any work is booked. Rated 9.97 on Checkatrade, 4.9 on Trustpilot and 5.0 on Google, with 500+ spray foam removals and 35+ years of combined experience. Fully insured with £5 million public liability and £10 million employers' liability cover.
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