How To Stop Damp Related Issues In Your Home
When moisture makes its way into the walls, floors or ceilings of a building, it is called “damp”. This is a major concern for the owners and residents of the building. Damp can affect the structure of the building and have an impact on the health of the residents. Knowing how to stop damp is therefore extremely important.
Causes of Damp
The causes for damp are:
• Faulty design that does not take into account the climate, soil, gradient and drainage in the area.
• Insufficient drainage that is unable to cope with the volume of water. Drains may also be blocked, which can lead to problems with damp.
• Insufficient air circulation. Activities such as washing clothes, cooking and bathing lead to the build-up of water vapour inside the house. Modern central heating systems keep the building warm but do not provide air circulation, allowing moisture to condense on cooler surfaces. Over time, this leads to damp inside the bricks and encourages the growth of mould.
• Lack of Maintenance. If drains become blocked and damage to the building’s structure is not repaired, then this will allow the damp to spread and the problem to become worse.
How to Stop Damp
damp-survey how to stop dampHouses have traditionally been built with walls, ceilings and floors that allow moisture in and out. However, modern designs are intended to stop water entering entirely. Therefore, the steps you will need to take to stop damp depends on the age of the building, but there are some steps you can take in all structures.
• Scientific design of damp-proof features should take several factors into account, including the level of rainfall, soil type, and the slope of the ground. Drainage should be designed to cope with more than the estimated rainfall. The house can be built to reduce the amount of water reaching the walls, for example having the roof overhanging the walls, and gravel paths instead of slabs to improve drainage.
• The majority of modern houses have a built-in damp proof course, which is an impermeable layer at or just below ground level, intended to prevent water rising up the walls.
• Improving ventilation is important when you are considering how to stop damp. This prevents water vapour accumulating in specific areas of the house and condensing on the walls. If your house has a chimney, it should be covered, to prevent water entering, but not completely blocked. Trees should not be planted close to the house as they reduce the air circulation around the building.
• Regular maintenance of the property is important to prevent damp. The exterior of the house can be painted to reduce the amount of water entering through the walls. Drains should be checked on a regular basis for blockages, and cleared if necessary.
Conclusion
How to stop damp and solve the damp problems should be something that every homeowner needs to consider, but following these basic steps should make that task much easier.
If in doubt get in touch with a Carlisle Damp Proofing Company