[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Five Signs Your House Needs Damp Treatment”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
A person’s house is arguably the most valuable thing they will ever own in their lifetime. Not only are our homes extremely costly to run, but they are also places of warmth, comfort and refuge. With this in mind, it can be an extremely distressing time when your home starts to fall apart. When the structural integrity of a property is compromised, this can be detrimental to one’s health and can even become unlivable.
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Damp issues can cause damage to both the exterior and interior of a building. Not only is it unhealthy to live in a damp property, but the visual appearance of damp is unsightly and can make a house feel grubby and less homely.
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When you encounter damp related damage for the first time, it can be difficult to know what the best course of action is. With so many myths and varying opinions surrounding the subject, it can be an almost overwhelming task to tackle something so unfamiliar. Although there are some home remedies you can try to combat damp, it’s preferable to seek professional help at the first sign of excess moisture to ensure the problem doesn’t spiral. At North Yorkshire Remedials, we use the latest technology and are constantly striving to evolve our methods to ensure your home is 100% damp proof.
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Another factor to consider is that there are different sorts of damp that manifest themselves in different ways. The treatment needed is entirely dependent on the sort of damp that is present, so it’s extremely important to get it correctly identified by a professional. Rising damp is one of the most common forms and can cause serious damage to a home both inside and out. This issue is caused by groundwater being absorbed by porous building materials and rising up through the walls or floors of a property. Â
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In order to banish damp problems as quickly as possible, it’s important to be able to identify the telltale signs so the issue can be nipped in the bud there and then. Rising damp is often misdiagnosed, so it’s imperative to be as clued up on the issue as possible to ensure you’re taking the correct precautions. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the most common signs that your property is being affected by rising damp, enabling you to seek out the most effective treatment possible.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Tide marks and water patches”][vc_column_text]
When your wall has patches of discolouration, this could be a sign of rising damp. Tide marks can make a wall look dirty and are caused by salts from the groundwater. Once this water evaporates, the salts cause the surface of the wall to change in texture and colour. Signs of efflorescence are also key indicators of damp related damage.
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If a wall looks wet or feels damp to touch, this is also a sign of moisture infiltration. Due to the nature of rising damp, these marks will usually be seen at a relatively low height, perhaps one or two metres above the ground.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Cracked or rotting skirting boards”][vc_column_text]
When wood gets wet, it can begin to warp and rot. With this in mind, a damaged skirting board is a telltale sign of excess moisture. Whether your skirting board is cracking, crumbling or simply flaking paint, it’s worth getting it checked out.
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When assessing your home for any damp related damage, keep in mind that rising damp will only affect the ground floor of your home. The problem originates from ground level moisture which will only be absorbed at low levels. So, if you have a deteriorating skirting board on the top floor of your property, rising damp is unlikely to be the culprit. When trying to diagnose your damp damage, this is an important rule to follow. However, you should always contact a professional for confirmation.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”The lifting of floor coverings and wallpaper”][vc_column_text]
Wallpaper is extremely likely to lose its stick once it becomes damp. When a house is being affected by rising damp, you will often see wallpaper begin to tear and curl in the corners. Again, rising damp only occurs at ground level, so wallpaper is likely to fray in the bottom corners. Paint will also react badly with the moisture and may begin to chip or fade.
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If the issue is present in the floors, as opposed to the walls, floor coverings such as mats or rugs may also begin to lift and damp patches may be visible. Dampness in flooring can be a bit more difficult to spot. However, when you know what to look out for, the signs can seem a lot more obvious.
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Ever come across those bubbly patches on your walls and wondered what they were caused by? When an excess of moisture permeates the bricks in your home, the brick salts are washed out and released into the plaster, resulting in blister-like bumps on the wall. Not only can this be unpleasant to look at, but it is a telltale sign of rising damp.
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If you suspect your property is being affected by rising damp, checking the exterior as well as the interior is imperative. After all, that’s where the moisture originates. If bricks are corroded or have become discoloured, this could indicate a presence of excess moisture. Further to this, efflorescence can also occur outdoors, creating a white and powdery wall surface.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”The solution: damp proofing treatment”][vc_column_text]
So you’ve established that there may be a rising damp issue in your property, but what’s the solution? It may seem wise to take a back seat and leave it entirely to the professionals, but this is not necessarily the case.
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Whether your property is being torn apart by damp damage, or your wallpaper has just started to peel, it’s always a good idea to seek professional advice. However, damp issues are frequently misdiagnosed and as a result, you may end up paying over the odds for products or installations you don’t need. With this in mind, it’s important for you to be at the top of your damp proofing game to ensure you’re not taken for a ride.
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Damp proofing costs can vary depending on the scale and nature of the job. With this in mind, it’s advisable to request a comprehensive quote before you commit to a certain service. You should also shop around and try to get advice from a range of damp diagnosing professionals to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.
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As well as being able to identify the common signs of rising damp, it’s also important to understand the various treatments on offer and how they can help. Most damp proof courses (or DPCs) are based on the concept of creating a waterproof barrier in the walls of a property. However, there are a couple of different techniques for building this barrier. Below is a brief guide to a few damp repair treatments.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”A Chemical injection damp cure”][vc_column_text]
A collection of holes is drilled into the wall and a water-repellent chemical is then injected. This will spread across the wall between the holes to create a damp proof membrane.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Electro-osmotic damp proofing”][vc_column_text]
This type of damp proofing is often said to be particularly effective on thick walls. Holes are made in the brickwork of a property and a titanium wire is pushed into these holes at regular intervals. It is then earthed and a low-level voltage is applied to stop dampness from rising.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Re-plastering”][vc_column_text]
If your walls have been ravaged by damp damage, a re-plastering job may be in order. An experienced surveyor will be able to restore your walls to their former glory, leaving no trace of any mould or crumbling. Re-plastering can be a great way to get your home back into shipshape, however, if there is any damage to your DPC, this will need to be repaired to prevent the issue from recurring. Some older properties may not even have a DPC at all, so it’s important to rectify this to ensure your home is properly protected.
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To find out more about North Yorkshire Remedials’ damp proofing solutions, why not visit our website for a break down of our services?
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From rising damp and woodworm to dry and wet rot, North Yorkshire Remedials has seen it all and we’ve got the solution to any damp related issue. Our treatments are both affordable and durable, ensuring you are receiving the highest quality service at the best price. If you’re looking to update your DPC, contact us today to speak to a member of our friendly team.
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