Living near the sea sounds idyllic — but if you own an older property in El Albir, you’ll know that damp can become a serious problem. Many homes built before the 1970s weren’t designed to handle the humid climate and the prolonged shade cast by Serra Gelada. We’ve been through it ourselves. We renovated our house and learned, step by step, how to tackle every damp-related issue it threw at us. This guide shares that experience so you can do the same.
1. Rising damp: capillary action and hidden drainage
Capillary damp: the invisible enemy
Rising damp caused by capillary action is one of the worst things that can happen to an older property in El Albir. It gives no warning. You don’t see it coming. And when it appears, it creeps slowly up the walls like a silent plague. Many owners go mad trying to understand why their walls keep showing stains again and again, even after repainting. This type of damp passes through bricks, plaster and even skirting boards. If it’s not treated correctly at the root, it won’t go away.
In more serious cases, or when capillary damp is widespread, there are more modern techniques and higher-impact solutions that can help. These require specialist labour, but they are effective when traditional techniques are no longer enough. Everything will depend on the extent of the damage and the value of the property.
Is it worth replacing the whole roof?
If the roof is badly damaged or the tiles are no longer doing their job, the best option is a complete replacement — budget permitting. It’s not a cheap job, but the benefits are clear:
- Health: you improve indoor air quality by eliminating damp and mould.
- Safety: you remove the risk of falling tiles, especially in areas with strong winds.
- Property value: a new, properly installed roof increases the value of the property and makes it more attractive to buyers.
Although the initial investment is significant, in the long run you’ll have a more durable and efficient roof.
Technical tip: if you can see water ingress but can’t work out where it’s coming from, wet the roof in sections with a hose and watch the interior for 10–15 minutes. Sometimes the problem is a single poorly sealed point.
4. OLD WINDOWS AND THERMAL BRIDGES: DAMP GETS IN WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT
Old aluminium or single-glazed wooden windows are one of the main points of entry for damp in older properties. The combination of cold exterior temperatures and warm indoor air creates condensation on the glass and frames, which over time penetrates the surrounding wall. The solution is replacing them with double-glazed PVC or aluminium windows with thermal break. It’s an investment that pays for itself in comfort, energy saving and the elimination of condensation damp.
