Damp?

[Scarlett]

In my basement kitchen I have some black speckles on the ceiling. My friend says this is damp, but my decorator says it is condensation. Any idea who is right?

[Lindy Loo]

As the marks are on the ceiling I would say that your decorator is right, (the black specks are mould from the damp atmoshpere). 

If it was rising damp then the walls would be affected.

 

Try increasing the ventilation in the kitchen, especially when cooking, perhaps having a window open. Alternatively you could have an extractor vent put in the window or an external wall.

 

Hope this helps

[richfo]

I agree with previous poster. Would add that rising damp usually only rises about 1metre and would not go to a ceiling. My last house had been heated by calor gas fires before we purchased it, the house was covered in black mould. It had been on the market for 8 months and we were lucky that we knew it was not serious. We put in central heating, made sure all was ventilated and from then it was fine.