Penetrating damp in Polis means water is entering through an external part of the building, such as a wall, window junction, terrace or parapet. A patch that changes after rain is a useful clue, but its position does not prove where water entered. Check the exposed details before repainting the bedroom wall or buying a coating.
For a Polis or Latchi property, the useful starting point is the affected elevation and what sits above it. A sheltered courtyard wall, a sea-facing window and a wall behind a terrace need different investigations. The correct repair follows that evidence, rather than a diagnosis based only on coastal location.
Build a picture of when the wall becomes damp
Record the date, room and position of each patch. Photograph the whole wall as well as the damaged finish, including windows and the ceiling junction. Note whether the change followed rain, irrigation, use of a bathroom or a period when the property was closed.
A stain that appears only when rain hits one side of the house puts openings and facade details higher on the inspection list. Damp that continues through dry weather keeps plumbing, drainage and condensation in the investigation. These can occur alongside rain penetration, so a single cause should not be assumed too early.
Compare the inside with the outside
From safe ground level, identify the window, lintel, balcony or roof edge opposite and above the patch. Water can travel along a slab or behind render before appearing inside. The outside feature nearest the stain is therefore a candidate, not a confirmed source.
Where a Polis wall inspection should focus
- Window heads and sills: check sealant adhesion, cracks at the frame, sill falls and the route by which rain should leave the opening.
- Render and masonry: look for cracks, hollow areas, open joints and previous repairs that meet a different material.
- Parapet tops: check copings, joints and the connection between the roof waterproofing and wall.
- Terraces and balconies: inspect upstands, thresholds, drainage and slab-to-wall junctions.
- External water use: identify planters, irrigation and drainage outlets that repeatedly wet the same section.
Salt deposits and peeling paint show a moisture or finish problem. They cannot, by themselves, distinguish rain penetration from another moisture source. Rust staining, loose concrete or substantial cracking needs assessment beyond a cosmetic damp repair.
Choose the repair that matches the entry route
If the investigation confirms an opening defect, the work may involve preparing the joint and installing a compatible sealant or correcting a sill detail. Smearing sealant over loose paint is a weak repair because the bond depends on the surface underneath.
Where damaged render is involved, the scope should explain which material is removed, how cracks are treated and how the new finish meets sound surrounding material. Our facade service covers work on those external surfaces. If the source is a terrace or roof junction, the appropriate waterproofing repair may be separate from the wall finish.
Coatings can form part of a designed repair. They are not a substitute for correcting active cracks, defective terminations or drainage. Ask whether the proposed finish suits the existing substrate and how it will allow the assembly to behave after repair.
Drying, plaster and the cost of access
Once the source is addressed, the inside wall may still need time to dry. Salt-affected or unsound plaster may need removal; sound finishes may need less intervention. Agree the criteria for plaster restoration before decorating, rather than choosing a fixed repainting date from the first visit.
Repair cost depends on access, the area actually requiring removal, substrate condition and the number of junctions to rebuild. A small window repair reached safely is a different scope from render removal on a high elevation. The quote should separate investigation, external repair and internal reinstatement so you can compare proposals clearly.
The standard Waterproofed inspection is €100 plus 19% VAT (€119 total). Opening finishes, controlled tests or other further investigation are additional work and should be quoted before proceeding. For local coverage and a first assessment, see Polis waterproofing. Send the location, wide photographs and the pattern of wetting when requesting the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does a white salt mark prove penetrating damp?
No. Deposits can show that moisture has moved through a material, but they do not identify the original source. Rain history, external details and other possible water sources still need investigation.
Can water enter above the patch rather than directly behind it?
Yes. Water can track through joints or along slabs before appearing indoors. An inspection should include details above and beside the visible damage, not only the matching point outside.
Should the inside be painted as soon as the outside is repaired?
Only after the surface is suitable for decoration. Drying, salts and damaged plaster can affect adhesion, so the reinstatement sequence should be agreed after assessing the wall.