Deal With Damp Before the Rainy Season
Spring always heralds the rainy season, and you should deal with any damp problems before this and also before the damage becomes even worse.
25/09/2022
With the arrival of spring, we all know that the rains are not too far away. If the past few years are any indication, this year will probably be a doozie and every homeowner should prepare their property just in case. Damp is a problem that nobody wants. It makes a house smell, it makes it feel cold, it can exacerbate health conditions, and it can cost a fortune to fix if not attended to as early as possible.
Damp is the bane of every homeowner's life. When signs of damp first appear on a wall or ceiling, there is usually a serious reason behind the problem, and it is important to determine the cause as quickly as possible to avoid expensive repairs to a property. There are several causes of damp and only the location and type of damp will lead you in the right direction, but sometimes it is more of a 'seek and ye shall find' exercise.
First indications of damp
As a homeowner, you know that you need to keep a close check on a house to ensure it stays in tip-top condition and that includes keeping an eye out for signs that may indicate a problem of some sort. Damp usually makes its presence known after it seeps into bricks and mortar, drips on ceiling boards, leaks through gaps in windows or doors, or where mould starts to accumulate for no reason. There are several indicators that damp may be present in a home:
• Mould growth on walls other than a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry
• Mouldy or musty smell inside cupboards or rooms
• Signs that paint or plaster is peeling off a wall
• Stained or discoloured paint or plaster
• Rotten woodwork or trim around windows or fittings
Reasons for damp
As mentioned above, there are many circumstances where damp can occur, and it is important to first inspect the damp to investigate the source. It would be a waste of time to spend money on damp proofing products if the source of the problem is not rectified beforehand. Here are a few reasons that damp could occur:
• Lack of DPC during construction where moisture is absorbed into brick and mortar
• Build-up of soil around exterior walls above the DPC that to cause rising damp
• Roof leaks caused by damaged tiles or flashing that allows water to penetrate brickwork
• Water leaks from pipes, burst or otherwise, behind plaster or tiled walls
• Lack of primer on cement or bricks where moisture can be absorbed
• Blocked gutters that overflow and seep into surrounding brickwork
• Gaps or cracks around fittings such as windows that lets in moisture
What to do if you discover damp
As soon as any signs of damp occur, if you are not the type of person to attempt to do anything yourself, get in touch with damp proofing specialists and let them come out and do a thorough investigation. After that, they will be able to inform as to what is needed and provide you with an estimated cost. For those who prefer to get stuck in and do it themselves, first, locate the cause of the damp to rectify the problem and then pop into your local Builders store for the supplies you need.
Consider investing in a moisture meter that can be used on a variety of different materials including plaster, brick, wood and others.
