Damp is one of those problems every homeowner dreads – and it’s not surprising considering just how common it is and the potential damage it can cause to a property.
Those worried about the possibility of damp occurring in the home can prevent the problem by damp proofing their properties.
This is best done by a qualified tradesman – as is any repair work to rectify damp problems that have already occurred.
What is damp?
Damp occurs when water gets into the structure of the property and seeps through the brick or woodwork into view.
You can usually spot signs of damp on your walls, typically in the form of patches that are a different colour to the rest of the wall. You may also notice an odd smell and be able to feel the wetness of the wall by pressing your fingers against it.
If the dampness has been there for some time, you might see mould start to grow and the property may feel colder than usual. Prolonged damp can additionally affect the health of the home’s inhabitants in the long term.
Damp can occur in one of three main ways: rising damp, condensation and penetrating damp.
Rising damp
Rising damp takes place when water in the ground seeps up into the structure of the home through a capillary action.
It can result in damage such as decayed skirting boards, discolouration and staining, crumbling or stained plaster, deteriorating wood floors and peeling paint and wallpaper.
Rising damp can also bring contaminating salts into the plaster and walls – in this case, the plaster will need to be replaced with a special formulation that is resistant to these substances.
A chemical damp proofing course can resolve this type of damp. However, it is important that you get the problem assessed by a qualified, experienced tradesman as chemical damp proofing can only be applied to properties with rising damp.
If rising damp occurs because a physical barrier has broken down, a remedial damp proofing course can help.
Condensation
Condensation occurs when cold air comes into contact with warm air, creating moisture that can stick to walls.
The problem can be further intensified by indoor activities that also result in water entering the air, such as hanging clothes up to dry and cooking.
You can see the condensation quite clearly on surfaces such as glass and ceramic tiling, but it’s not so apparent on plaster walls – where the water can take hold and turn into a damp problem.
Damage caused by condensation can include stained window frames and curtains from where water has run down the glass.
Penetrating damp
Penetrating damp develops when problems with the materials used to construct the property lead to moisture leaking into the home.
For example, a broken guttering or down pipe can result in water running out of the drainage system and into the walls of the property.
It is likely the problem will be at its most noticeable during periods of particularly heavy rain, when the excess moisture results in clearly damp walls.
As with rising damp, the effects of penetrating damp can include damage to decor and the growth of mould if left untreated for a long time.
Penetrating damp is most likely to occur in buildings with solid walls rather than newer ones with cavity walls.
It is vital you employ the services of an experienced tradesman to identify penetrating damp before action is taken to remedy the situation, as in some cases penetrating damp can seem like rising damp.
Use Rated People to find the best damp proofing professionals
As you can see, damp in its various forms can be particularly troublesome.
Not only does it result in damage to the property when left untreated, but it can also result in health problems and higher energy bills because you may turn up the heating to counteract the cooling effect of the damp.
That’s why it’s essential to make sure you only hire the best tradesman to identify the cause of damp in your home and recommend a course of action to resolve it.
By going through Rated People, you can select the most qualified man for the job by perusing the ratings left by other customers who have previously used their services.
All you have to do is post a description of the problems you’re having on the Rated People site and wait for one of our registered tradesmen to get in touch with you.
Whenever you connect with one of these tradesmen Rated People inform you of their ratings so you always know what kind of service you can expect.
The website links more than 15,000 people with the tradesmen they need every month – why not become one of them and find a tradesman today to help you with your damp problem?