[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Does Your Property Need Damp Proofing?”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The day you realise your house has damp problems is not a good day. There’s the fear of how much it’s all going to cost to fix, and then the ongoing anxiety of whether it’s going to come back again, even once you think you’ve found the cause. Going to a specialist damp company to get effective damp proofing – also known as a damp proof course (DPC) – installed is the single most effective way of preventing damp issues at your property, particularly if it’s a deep-rooted issue like rising damp.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Professional damp proofing is a long-term solution for preventing moisture decay in all its forms; everything from the movement of moisture into interior spaces, timber decay and structural damage and outbreaks of dry rot and wet rot. If you’ve noticed a damp problem in your home, you might be wondering what to do next and whether your property needs damp proofing.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
At North Yorkshire Remedials, we are experts in not only identifying different types of damp problems but also installing the best quality and up-to-date damp proofing solutions. So if you’re not sure where your damp is coming from, how to spot the signs, how to treat it or why it’s so important to go to a professional damp specialist, then you can trust our sound advice.
What is rising damp?
Rising damp is just one of three main forms of damp, and with so many different types of damp, all with different warning signs and treatments, understanding what to do about your damp problem can feel overwhelming. Firstly, it’s best to try to get your head around what damp actually is and what causes it.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Penetrating damp and damp caused by condensation are two common forms of damp which are often difficult to tell apart because they can both occur anywhere on the wall. In the case of penetrating damp, water soaks through the structure of the building, perhaps via a leaky roof, burst pipes, damaged guttering or poor plumbing. Meanwhile, condensation is simply down to too much moisture and a lack of ventilation within the property. If you notice either of these damp issues in your property it’s important that you address them, however, they tend to have a noticeable source of moisture which can be resolved.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Rising damp, on the other hand, is much more difficult to deal with. Rising damp is a rarer form of damp which occurs when moisture from the ground below a property is gradually soaked up into the naturally porous stone or brick which your house is built from. Water in the ground is filled with salts that travel up through the wall, which in turn then draw even more moisture from the air. All of this external moisture eventually seeps into the inside of a building through other porous materials, such as plasterwork and timber floorboards – this is what makes everything feel wet and damp.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
So what is rising damp caused by? Well, as we mentioned, effective damp proofing is the best way to prevent your house from rising damp damage. So in that case, faulty, damaged or non-existent damp proofing in the external walls is definitely a key trigger for rising damp. You may also find rising damp if you have leaking pipes at the base of the wall, previous damp problems causing water to pool at the base of the wall, or if the ground level around the building has been raised.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
If you have an older house, you’ll probably have encountered rising damp as the widespread use of damp proof materials only started around the 1950s; you either don’t have a DPC or it’s deteriorated over time.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
If you’re reading this and alarm bells are going off, the next thing to do is to look for symptoms of rising damp in your home.
Signs of rising damp
Although it’s usually best left to the professionals, there are some signs of rising damp which you can look out for so that you can begin to diagnose your damp problem.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Probably the most obvious sign will be walls feeling damp and wet – if you’re able to access the exposed masonry underneath your plaster, that will definitely feel wet if you have a damp issue. However, to identify rising damp specifically, there’s one big tell-tale sign – rising damp only occurs on the ground floor. Here are a few, less obvious, symptoms of rising damp:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][info_list font_size_icon=”24″ eg_br_width=”1″][info_list_item]
Tide marks and damp staining. Both are caused by evaporation and salts from the ground and will appear up to 1m above the skirting board. Damp staining will have a yellow or brownish colour.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Peeling wallpaper. Very easy to spot, peeling wallpaper caused by rising damp will peel nearest the skirting board first, with the corners turned up.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Decayed skirting boards. As they tend to be made from timber, skirting boards are the first to be affected by moisture damage. Look out to see if they are cracked, crumbly or growing fungus.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Salts within the plaster. This will show itself as white fluffy deposits in the plaster, with blistering patches on the wall.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Black mould. Oh no, the dreaded black mould! Probably the most obvious sign of all types of damp, but if localised up to 1m from the skirting then you’ve got rising damp.
[/info_list_item][/info_list][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Despite these obvious signs, it can still be tricky to identify what form of damp you have and how severe it is. So if you’re stuck, consult a damp specialist. We are experts in identifying types of damp and knowing how to treat it.
Rising damp treatment
When it comes to damp, ‘out of sight, out of mind’ does not apply – painting over it definitely won’t work. However, there are some preventative steps you can take yourself to reduce the possibility of damp appearing, and as with anything, prevention is better than cure:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][info_list font_size_icon=”24″ eg_br_width=”1″][info_list_item]
Keep on top of outdoor home maintenance
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Keep your home warm, well-ventilated and dry
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Remove excess moisture using a dehumidifier
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Redirect water away from damp affected areas through drainage, pipes or gutters
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Install a new drainage system
[/info_list_item][/info_list][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
These will prevent surface level damp within your home, however, if a damp problem really starts to take over, particularly if it’s a complex issue like rising damp, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals. They will assess the nature, type and extent of damp and then either determine the cause and repair the source of moisture, or look to a long-term solution. If you have rising damp, it’s very likely that you’ll need remedial work done to your DPC, or a new one installed. There are many different ways to add a damp proofing barrier to your home, but these are the most common and effective:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][info_list font_size_icon=”24″ eg_br_width=”1″][info_list_item]
Chemical DPC. A series of holes are drilled into the wall and then a water-repellent chemical fluid penetrates across the wall, forming a continuous barrier to protect from further rising damp.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Physical DPC. Specialist cutting creates a horizontal groove along the wall, where a damp proof course is subsequently embedded in the mortar. Spacers are then inserted to support the wall and compress the bedding mortar. For both chemical DPC and physical DPC, further remedial works will have to be carried out, including replacing plaster, skirting boards and reconnecting electrical sockets.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Electro-osmotic DPC. This form of DPC sounds complicated, but it works in a similar way, forming a barrier to protect from rising damp. Titanium wire is passed around the walls, pushed into holes in the brickwork and then earthed, applying a safe voltage. This interferes with naturally generated electricity and depresses the rise of moisture. Don’t worry – its low voltage means it won’t affect your electricity bill too much.
[/info_list_item][/info_list][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
These expert damp proofing solutions will not only solve your current damp issue but also prevent rising damp from reemerging.
Why is it important to go to a damp specialist?
Damp repair specialists can solve all of your damp-related issues and it’s vital that you seek their advice as soon as you notice a problem; there are three main reasons for this:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][info_list font_size_icon=”24″ eg_br_width=”1″][info_list_item]
Financial cost. The longer damp presides, the worse it gets and the more expensive it is to fix. Your rising damp treatment cost will be worth it in the future and save you from spending lots on constant repairs.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Safety. Allowing damp to spread through your home is structurally damaging and your property will slowly start to deteriorate, becoming an unsafe place to live. Other issues like wet and dry rot and woodworm are a common after-effect of damp, none of which are pleasant or easy to deal with.
[/info_list_item][info_list_item]
Health. Damp produces allergens and irritants which, if inhaled or touched, can cause serious health problems for you and your family. Most commonly you’ll experience respiratory symptoms and infections – if anyone in your family is asthmatic, they will be particularly vulnerable.
[/info_list_item][/info_list][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
So whether you’ve spotted the signs and you know you have a damp problem, or maybe you just suspect something isn’t right, it’s always worth consulting your local damp proofing specialist to get things checked out; it could save you serious money, time and even your health.
Specialist damp proofing from North Yorkshire Remedials
At North Yorkshire Remedials, we understand the damage that damp can cause in your home. We are highly skilled damp specialists, trained to professionally deal with any damp issues you may have, to prevent future problems and ultimately to keep your family safe. We use the latest available technology and we are committed to consistently updating our techniques in order to achieve the best long-lasting results. In fact, the majority of our damp-related work has a 30-year guarantee, to match our 35 years of experience.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
We use both electro-osmotic and chemical injection damp proofing techniques to create the most effective barrier possible to protect your home from rising damp. If you’d like to learn more about our expert damp repair services, you can contact us directly and speak to a member of our helpful team.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]