DIY Damp is an independent reference site about basement damp: why it happens, how to tell one cause apart from another, what a fix actually costs, and when a problem stops being a DIY job.
Why this site exists
Damp basement advice online is mostly written by companies that sell waterproofing. That is not automatically wrong, but it does mean the answer to “what should I do?” is almost always “hire us.” DIY Damp sells nothing. There are no sponsored recommendations, no contractor lead-generation, and no affiliate pressure shaping which fix we say you need.
Who writes it
DIY Damp is written and edited by Umar Farooq. To be direct about it: he is a researcher and writer, not a licensed contractor, building inspector, or industrial hygienist. The value here is not trade experience — it is careful, sourced research that pulls scattered official guidance into one readable answer.
That shapes what this site will and will not tell you. It will explain what efflorescence is, what relative humidity range keeps mould from establishing, and what a French drain typically costs and why the range is so wide. It will not tell you your foundation is structurally sound, diagnose a health symptom, or replace an inspection.
How the content is researched
Guidance is built on published sources rather than opinion — primarily the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for mould and indoor air quality, and building-science literature for moisture behaviour. Where a claim is specific — a humidity threshold, a health effect, a cost range — you should find a link to where it came from, so you can check it yourself instead of taking our word for it.
Full detail is on our editorial policy page, including how we handle corrections.
What we get wrong
Some of it, inevitably. Damp is local: soil, water table, climate, construction era and local code all change the right answer, and a general guide cannot know your house. If you find something inaccurate or out of date, tell us and we will correct it and note the change. That offer is genuine — corrections are the cheapest way for a site like this to stay worth reading.
Contact
Email umar.bwn@gmail.com, or use the contact page.