:: Common causes of damp and leaks include missing or blocked guttering and missing or loose flashing or roof tiles. Flat roofs are another common cause because they're only watertight if properly sealed, and water tends to sit on them in a way it doesn't on pitched roofs. If you think your home has any of these problems, you could tackle them yourself, but it may be better - and safer - to get a builder or roofer in.
:: If your home's damp-proof course is being prevented from doing its job properly, this can also cause damp. You should be able to see the line of the course along your home's outside walls (several inches up from the ground) and if the level of your garden, patio or path is higher than the course, you need to do something about it.
:: Other common problems with outside walls (penetrating damp) are deteriorated or missing pointing, cracked and chipped rendering, and bricks that have become porous. Again, you can fix these things yourself, or get a builder to do it.
:: Noticed damp around a chimney breast? It could be because the chimney stack needs repairing, or the chimney breast isn't ventilated properly. If the fireplace hole has been bricked up and plastered over, a plastic or metal vent should have been fitted. If you don't have one, fit one straightaway - it's a relatively straightforward DIY job. And if you already have a vent, make sure it's not blocked.
:: If the damp is worse at the bottom of the wall than further up, you may have a case of rising damp. If there's no obvious cause you can put right, get a specialist damp company in - they'll probably install a new damp-proof course and then replaster.
DIY news bulletin
:: New research reveals that many women would think twice before calling in a male electrician. According to a survey of 3,000 women by NICEIC (the UK's voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry), 47% of female homeowners admit to feeling intimidated when dealing with a male sparky, while 11% say that they would only have a man around if they were not alone.
The answer, it seems, is more female electricians. According to the research, 50% of the respondents would feel more comfortable dealing with a woman and 31% are more likely to trust a female electrician's opinion over a male's. A total of 26% said that it would make a refreshing change to see a woman in charge of the tools.
To address this problem, NICEIC is spearheading an initiative to recruit more women to the trade and has founded an Apprentice Academy to plug the skills gap.
"We hope that by launching this campaign, in line with our Apprentice Academy, more ladies will come forward and help to even up the balance in what is currently a male-dominated industry," says Emma McCarthy, CEO of Ascertiva Group, NICEIC's parent company.
The Apprentice Academy, in partnership with Bedford College, aims to provide students, both male and female, with the necessary training and skills for the industry. NICEIC will subsidise the apprentices' salaries by up to £2,000 per academic year and all other costs associated with the course will be covered by Bedford College.
For more information, or to find a registered electrician, visit www.niceic.com.
:: If you're making over the front of your home, check out the handmade house plaques from Gallery Thea.
It'll create a plaque with your house name or number and your choice of colours and design. The plaques cost £70 each, or £90 if they're personalised to depict your home. See www.gallerythea.co.uk.
Ask the expert...
Q: I have a damp patch in the middle of my kitchen floor - I've taken up the flooring and it's coming from the concrete sub-floor underneath. What should I do?
A: It's probably a leaky pipe or a faulty damp-proof membrane underneath the concrete. Your best bet is to get a reputable builder or plumber in because they'll be able to find the cause and put it right.
Seasonal task...
Last week, charity CO-Gas Safety revealed that almost 600 people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK between September 1995 and August 2010. To keep you and your family safe, have your gas appliances and heating system serviced annually, get your chimneys and flues checked regularly, and fit electronic carbon monoxide detectors, available from DIY stores.
