Damp is a big concern among homeowners across the UK and it can be difficult to distinguish what type of damp is causing problems to your property. Damp can occur without any warning but can cause serious damage to your building’s infrastructure if not identified as soon as possible. This article will provide a helpful guide to not only identifying the different types of damp but also providing possible treatments for damp problems.
How to identify Condensation
Condensation occurs when moisture is being absorbed into the warm atmosphere of the property. As the property cools down the moisture condenses onto cold surfaces, such as windows and windowsills. This is where we see the most common sign of condensation in the form of water droplets.
Condensation usually occurs on windows but this form of damp can also be present in roof spaces as well as sub-floor areas.
The most common signs of condensation are:
- Black spot mould growing on walls, surfaces and carpets
- Water droplets on windows and windowsill
- Damp musty smell
- Peeling paint or plaster
There are also potential health hazards associated with black spot mould – the most prominent of these been asthma.
How to identify Rising Damp
Rising damp is dampness that is present in walls as a result of moisture rising through the fabric of the wall. Rising damp is a particular problem in older buildings where the damp proof course has become damaged or the ground level has been raised above the path or driveway.
Typical signs of rising damp:
- Walls feel damp when touched
- Plaster will bubble and peel away from the interior walls
- Tide marks found on the interior walls – horizontal brown or discoloured marks
- The plaster will peel away from the interior walls
How to identify Penetrating Damp
Penetrating damp is more common among properties than rising damp. It is essentially moisture being built up horizontally through the walls of the building. Penetrating damp can occur from external defects such as damaged rainwater goods or faulty roof fabrics.
There are several indicators that your property may have penetrating damp including:
- Damage to internal walls or external roofing
- Black spot mould appearing on interior walls
- Damp and musty smell
How condensation, rising damp and penetrating damp can be treated
The most important aspect of treating condensation is to target the moisture in the air. Condensation can occur from day to day activities such as washing, cooking and bathing so there is a lot of warm air trapped and is unable to exit the property. The way to overcome this is by adding kitchen and bathroom fans which can ventilate the air within the property.
Rising damp can be treated through an injection damp proof course which is injected into old brick and stonework structures. The damp proofing cream will fill in any of the cracks which will in turn, act as a barrier so moisture can’t pass through.
Injection mortar is another type of damp proofing system that can treat for rising damp. This type of system is carried into the porous mortar beds and rubble by the rising damp where it crystallises to form an impermeable barrier to control subsequent water rise.
To treat penetrating damp there are a number steps that can be taken. In the first instance check pipes and all exposed areas as there might be blockage somewhere. Sometimes the downpipes can become obstructed so these should be emptied and if the problems keep persisting then measures should be taken to replace the gutters.
Contacting the Specialists
Identifying dampness can be made by yourself but, not knowing the full extent of the issue could lead to serious problems in the long term for your property if left untreated. At Timberwise we specialise in damp and timber treatments so, if any of the damp issues discussed in this article are raising their head in your property then don’t hesitate to call Timberwise for help and advice.