About this service
When to contact us
What the work includes
Related pages
When to contact us
This page is for you if a wall in your Barcelona flat has already been affected by damp and a simple repaint will not fix it. Common cases:
- paint that has bubbled, peeled or comes away when touched
- flaking areas, old damp traces, uneven surface
- a wall that was painted before and the mark returned in the same place
- mould next to an area where paint has failed
- a cold corner, the lower part of a wall or a party wall with a ruined finish
You do not need to know whether it is mould or old damp. Two or three photos are usually enough to see where to start.
Where damp walls show up in Barcelona flats
A few spots come up again and again, and knowing which one you have helps us read the photos:
- party walls shared with a neighbour, which stay cooler than the rest of the room and collect condensation in the colder months
- north-facing exterior walls that get little sun and dry slowly
- the lower part of a wall near the floor, where damp and worn skirting often meet
- behind large furniture on an outside wall, where air barely moves
None of these needs a builder’s diagnosis to photograph. They just explain why the paint failed in one place and not across the whole room, and they shape how the surface is prepared.
Send 3 photos on WhatsApp
The most useful things are:
- A wide shot of the wall and room — light, height, furniture nearby.
- A close-up of the damaged area — no flash, in focus.
- A few words — when it appeared and whether you have painted this spot before.
That is usually enough to say whether damp wall repair fits, whether mould treatment is needed first, or whether another option makes more sense. If the photos are unclear, we will say so — one extra picture is better than a guess.
It also helps to say which wall it is: an exterior wall, a party wall shared with a neighbour, or the lower part of a wall near the floor. Where the wall sits often explains why the paint failed there and not elsewhere.
How the work usually goes
We start with what is visible on the surface. After that it may involve:
- removing peeling or bubbled paint
- cleaning and preparing the area
- treating mould if it is on the damaged wall
- light levelling of the surface
- primer or preparation for painting
- painting when the base is ready
Not every case goes through all steps. A small area with peeling paint is one thing. A large wall with several layers and recurring marks is another.
Treat, smooth or repaint — how we decide
“Damp wall repair” can mean three different amounts of work, and the photos usually show which one your wall needs:
- Treat the mark first when there is visible mould on the surface. That part overlaps with mould removal — treating the mark comes before any finish.
- Smooth and prepare when paint has bubbled or come away and the surface is uneven, so it needs cleaning, levelling and priming before it can take a new coat.
- Repaint only when the wall is already sound and prepared and all it needs is the finish — that is anti-mould painting, not a repair.
Most real walls are a mix, and we suggest the combination that matches the condition rather than a fixed package. Preparing the surface properly helps reduce the risk of the new coat lifting again; if damp keeps feeding the wall, the mark can still return.
When not to paint straight away
If the mark is growing, dripping or looks like an active leak, the cause needs to be understood first. Surface repair makes sense when the wall is not taking on new moisture. If damp keeps feeding the same zone, paint will peel again.
What we do not do
To be clear, this work does not include:
- full replastering or plasterboard replacement
- structural wall repair
- finding a hidden cause of damp inside the wall
- fixing leaks or plumbing work
- heavy waterproofing
- a promise that the problem will never return if the cause remains
If you need something from this list, it is better to say so upfront than to offer work that does not fit.
Related pages
If the main issue is a mark on sound paint — see mould removal. If the wall is ready and you only need a finish — anti-mould painting. If the ceiling is affected — damp ceiling repair.
More on mould on walls — dedicated page.
When you are ready, send a wide shot and a close-up of the wall on WhatsApp and we will tell you which of the routes above fits — the first look is free, and you can write in English. To send photos, use the contact page.