Rising damp is a common problem for homeowners, but it can be dealt with.
There are three main types of dampness that cause the issue: external sources, internal sources and condensation. External sources are usually due to rainwater getting in through cracks or gaps in the wall.
Internal sources are usually due to water from plumbing leaks seeping through walls or under floors. Condensation is caused by high humidity levels inside your home which cools down as they pass through cold bricks on their way out towards the colder outside temperature.
If you have rising damp, seal up all cracks and gaps in the walls. There are various types of sealants like fibreglass mesh tape that can be used.
If there is water coming through worse than before then it may be due to plumbing leaks that need to be fixed ASAP.
Do you Have a Damp Problem?
If you have ever wondered if you have a damp problem in your home, here are some signs to look for:
- You can smell dampness.
- Vertical or horizontal cracks form in drywall, but almost-invisible pin-size bubbles form in the paint.
- When you paint over a damp area, it sinks in the wall and may even start caving in.
- The paint peels or bubbles off.
- Mildew on floors, walls, windowsills and the ceiling.
- Musty smells coming from the carpets.
- Condensation on the walls or the windows.
If you have any of these signs, then you may be suffering from rising damp, in which case you do have a damp problem.
If you have it in your home, as a homeowner, you should seek out professional assistance and get it checked right away to see the severity of the damage it has caused. You must act quickly to find the source of the issue and fix it as soon as possible.
Your house could be at risk of severe structural damage, calling in a damp proofing expert to diagnose the issues is the first step. They will be able to give you a solution.
A damp proofing specialist will be able to do the following:
- Seal up all cracks and gaps.
- Bring up the wall.
- Replace sections of the damp ceiling.
- Install a damp proof membrane.
- Remove existing plaster, if necessary.
- Remove mould and mildew.
- Dry a damp basement and treat walls.
- Install an external damp proof course.
- and much more.
Which Type of Dampness Causes the Issue?
There are two main types of damp that you can get in your home, condensation and moisture penetration.
Condensation occurs when the air is humid and comes into contact with a cold surface. The humid air will condense on the cold surface, such as a cold wall.
The wet surface will dry over time and the moisture will just evaporate and leave no traces. Moisture penetration is more common than condensation and is usually due to water leaking internally.
When moisture penetrates and builds up somewhere, it can cause mould growth. Mould spores can grow and spread all over your home, causing further damage.
If this is the case then you will likely need to contact an expert to come out and inspect the building. When a damp proofing expert has inspected your home and diagnosed the problem, they will be able to issue you with a definitive solution.
They will recommend what type of damp proofing is needed for your situation and which products will be the most suitable for your situation.
How can you Tell if Your Home has High Humidity Levels?
To find if your home has high humidity levels, you need to first figure out if the humidity in your home is the cause of your problem.
Look for signs of condensation or water stains on internal walls, ceilings and window frames. If the condensation is forming on the inside of your house, then you could be dealing with condensation.
However, if the condensation is forming on the outside of your house, then you could be dealing with condensation penetration. If your home has high humidity levels, then you will hear condensation forming outside as the air is absorbed into the cold walls.
In which case you will likely need to hire a damp proofing company. When a damp proofer inspects your house and notices that condensation is forming on the outside, then they will need to work out why this is happening.
To fix condensation penetration, damp proofing experts will first carry out a thorough inspection of your home. They will look for where the condensation is forming and then use this process to work out the cause.
Once they have worked out the exact cause of the condensation penetration, they will then carry out an installation to fix the issue. Condensation Issues If your home has condensation issues, you will need to contact a damp proofing professional to investigate.
They will first carry out a thorough inspection of your home to find where the condensation is forming. However, if condensation is forming on the inside of your roof, then they will need to check your roof for any leaks.
Once they have located where the condensation is forming, they will use a process of elimination to find the cause of the condensation. If a damp proofing expert has ruled out a leak from your roof as the cause, then they will look at insulation and ventilation.
If the condensation is forming because of condensation penetration, then they will carry out a damp proofing installation to stop the issue from arising again.
What Will Happen if you do Nothing About Your Damp Problems?
If you leave your home when it has damp problems then the consequences will be devastating.
Mould will grow in your property and this will lead to structural damage as well as health problems for you and your family. Damp surfaces and damp areas will also attract vermin, as well as lead to rot in your property.
If your home has damp problems, then not only will you be at risk of experiencing higher energy bills because you will be losing heat through the walls, floors and ceilings of your property. Rather than leaving your home to rot and produce mould, mildew and other damp problems, you should hire someone to help you fix these issues.
Call in a damp proofing expert straight away to fix any damp problems in your property as you must fix these issues as soon as possible.
Is There Anything Else you Need to Know About Rising Damp?
Rising damp is the term used to describe moisture rising from the ground into the walls of your property.
It is caused by water from the ground seeping through your walls. In many cases, it is caused by the ground becoming saturated by water.
This can be due to heavy rainfall, or by a nearby leak. While there are several causes of rising damp, it is most common in older properties.
Older properties are more likely to have damp problems because the bricks and stones used to create the walls were rather porous. This means that they were more likely to absorb water from the ground.
As we mentioned above, there are several symptoms that you should look out for, if these symptoms are left ignored, then these could worsen over time, some examples of the symptoms include condensation on windows, damaged plaster and peeling paint. You may also notice a musty smell in the property because the dampness will encourage the growth of mould and mildew, it can also cause damp patches on the walls.
The best way to detect it is to find the source of it. The easiest way to do this is by having a thorough survey done by a professional.
Your surveyor will carefully inspect the property, checking the walls for dampness. If the surveyor finds any, they will advise you on the best way to proceed.
It is important to note, not only is this not good for your health, but if left untreated it can cause a great deal of damage to the structure of your property. This can lead to problems with dampness and leaks, or even worse, structural damage, so you should seek advice and fix these issues as soon as possible.
The damp proofing expert you hire should be able to provide you with a quote for the work that you need to get your property damp proofed. They can also provide you with details about the materials you will need to fix your property.
The longer you leave damp problems untreated, the more expensive the damp proofing expert will have to work to restore your property.
Summary
If you are looking for a reputable company to help fix your home’s damp problems, be sure to contact us.
We have extensive experience in this area and can provide expert advice on how to get rid of the problem once and for all. So don’t wait!
Contact us today so that we can come out and assess your property together with one of our team members who is an expert in environmental engineering. You won’t regret it when you see how much better life will be after eliminating your rising damp issues!