What are your walls hiding?

We don’t really think about our walls very much. After the paint’s dried and the pictures go up, they simply… exist. They go about their business of keeping everything in place as we live our lives watching telly.

But the thing is, walls can be a little devious. That which appears strong and organised on the outside can be harbouring all manner of minor issues on the inside. So let’s get into the problems our walls can have and how they can be fixed.

 

That slight mark you can’t avoid

You know where it is. Just above the skirting board, beside that corner where you always lose the hoover nozzle. Maybe it’s been there forever, but it doesn’t seem to be growing, so it gets categorised as “not urgent.” However, a small discoloured patch could be a sign of damp seepage. And with damp comes mould, with mould comes a headache, not to mention the smell.

It’s best to determine why the mark is there, remove the cause and then patch it up so you’ll never know it was there.

 

Hairline fractures

Old houses groan, so when a thin line appears in a piece of plasterwork, we shrug our shoulders and accept it as one of the perks of old houses. Some lines, however, have a very different story to tell, one of shifting foundations or structural settling that isn’t quite right. If a crack appears wider than a pound coin’s edge or is spreading like a spider’s web, you should get someone to take a look.

 

Listen out for problems with your walls

Every once in a while, clues aren’t visual at all. Have you ever had faint rustling or tapping coming from behind a wall at night? Or that strange buzz that isn’t an appliance? It could be a ghost story, but it’s far more likely to be creaking pipes, or worst of all, unwelcome guests.

Mice, wasps, and even squirrels have been found making themselves comfortable in cosy wall areas. If you live locally and you’ve got an ongoing problem, pest control Leeds is a service that a reasonable number of homeowners have discreetly used to take care of what they can’t get to.

 

Peeling or bubbling paint

Peeling paint, blisters, or bubbles isn’t just a pretty issue; it’s your wall waving a red flag. It might be reacting to moisture, surfaces not adequately prepared, or something brewing from beneath the surface, like leaks you can’t see. Paint is there to stick around, so when it starts to act up, it’s time to explore why you can’t just grab another coat.

 

Your home feels a little chilly

You’ve closed your windows, you’ve got your heating on, you’re under a blanket. In spite of that, you still get that certain spot of a room a trifle chillier.

Well, it’s probably not in your head. Poor insulation, air leaks from joints, or indeed cavity wall openings can be responsible for chilly spots. If your walls cannot hold heat, neither can your bank balance! A free thermal camera survey could point you in the right direction.

 

Moving or peeling wallpaper

Papering is a comedic tell-all of what’s going on behind your back. If it’s beginning to come away at the edges, bubbling, or coming away at joints, don’t instantly blame the paste. It could be because of a humidity issue or a wall reacting to a change in moisture over time.

Do some investigating to find the source of the problem before then repainting or redecorating.

 

How to find problems with your walls without ripping everything to pieces

Please don’t punch holes in your plaster to catch problems in time. Begin with a thorough once-over of your walls, look at them in natural lighting during the daytime and a torch after dark to look for strange shadows or patches of unevenness. Tap gently with your fingers on various sections and listen for sounds of emptiness. Run your hand over it. Feel any change in texture? These simple inspections, done every few months or so, can be a real lifesaver.

 

Trust your instincts

If it doesn’t quite feel right, or doesn’t quite look right, well, then it probably isn’t. And you don’t need to be a construction professional to know when your house could use a little TLC. A little draft, a new stain, a faint hum issuing from within the walls, something is amiss, no matter if you can’t quite tell. You deserve to call in a professional before it’s a very big repair.