As we all know damp can potentially be a problem for any homeowner and with rainfall being a constant occurrence across the UK having a damp inspection in your property when you suspect a damp problem is present is essential.
Damp problems can easily occur in your property and without any warning and could cause serious damage to the building infrastructure.
When trying to identify damp in your property there are a number of signs that you should look out for. The signs that dampness might be present are:
- The growth of black spot mould
- Damp musty smell
- Wallpaper appearing detached, discoloured and skirting boards broken and brittle
Problems with Damp in your property
There are three types of damp that might be occurring in your property. These are rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation:
Rising damp is a form of dampness that is present in walls as a result of the water underground rising through the fabric of the wall.
Rising damp is most likely to occur in older buildings due to the damp proof course becoming damaged over time or the ground level around the house having been risen from the addition of a new path or driveway.
Penetrating damp is where the moisture is built up horizontally through walls of the building. Penetrating damp occurs due to external defects such as damaged rainwater goods. When it rains, rainwater is usually evaporated out of the brickwork but when there are heavy periods of rainfall the property can suffer from an external defect where the water fails to evaporate.
It can lead to more serious issues such as wood rot, increased heat loss, frost damage to masonry and water damage to both the outside and inside of the property. Click the following link for information on how to treat penetrating damp.
Condensation occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with a surface that is cooler, the warm air is unable to retain the same amount of moisture and water is released onto the cold surface such as on internal walls or windows.
The main cause of condensation is day to day activities such as cooking, washing and dry clothes inside and with poor ventilation the warm air is trapped inside of the building.
What to expect from a Damp Inspection
The surveyor will first identify the type of damp issue within the property and then investigate the causes of the dampness and determine the source of moisture.
The surveyor will then analyse the existing damp proof course or inspect any problems with the building structure and look for potential problems that may be caused as a result of damp. Once the inspection has been completed the surveyor will provide an initial brief of what damp treatments might be needed in the property.
Contacting the Damp Specialists
At Timberwise we provide damp treatments for both domestic and commercial properties and ensure that all properties that are surveyed are done so the highest of standards.
Our damp specialists are highly experienced, qualified professionals who will use their experience to resolve any damp problems that might be present in your property. Contact our experienced team by calling 0800 288 8660
