Bristol properties are at risk of developing damp and timber problems for several reasons.
Older Solid Wall Construction
Many period Bristol properties don’t have the same construction materials or methods as modern cavity wall homes. Traditional masonry methods using solid brick and stone walls. While cavity walls rely on physical barriers to prevent rising damp, stone and solid brick walls rely on their breathability to allow moisture to evaporate away. However, with floodwater risks rising, as well as external renders that can trap or cause moisture to rise through a wall, it can be easy for damp to inhabit a wall and be prevented from escaping.
Suspended Timber Floors
Ventilation methods have changed drastically in the period since many Bristol properties were built. While these properties were originally built to breathe, modern methodologies often involve sealing the home to prevent heat loss during the cooler months of the year. This can have an adverse effect on suspended timber floors, where inadequate ventilation and moisture ingress can create the ideal environment for fungal decay to germinate and thrive. These conditions also promote the growth of woodworm infestations, which often thrive on rotten or rotting wood.
Cellars and Basements
Below-ground rooms are more at risk of moisture ingress due to the age of properties in the region, particularly those close to the city’s waterways. Heavy rainfall and high water levels create increased hydrostatic pressure behind a wall, which can cause defects to form. These defects allow water an easy route into a cellar or basement, with potential to damage stored items or the property itself. Modern basement waterproofing techniques can protect a cellar or basement from water ingress, and create new habitable areas within a property.
Traditional and Listed Buildings
Bristol’s conservation areas contain substantial numbers of historic buildings, including Victorian terraces and traditional stone and brick properties. In many cases, modern remedial treatments can adversely affect a property, often causing more harm than good. This is also true when choosing to redevelop or update a property. Diagnosis and survey of a property is especially important before altering the historic fabric of a building in these areas.
