TYPES OF DAMPNESS – WHAT ARE THE SIGNS & SOLUTIONS

We all adore our homes and want them to be flawless for as long as possible. However, the only criteria people are concerned about is that the walls remain dry. If this issue is not addressed, it will become the primary cause of building deterioration and tenant illness. So, are you concerned about the dampness in your home and looking out for its solutions? Then, you have landed on the right page. in In this article, we will explain the different types of dampness, its causes, and the effects of dampness on your walls.

What Is Dampness?

Before starting, the first question that must have arisen in your mind is, what is dampness? For many homeowners, dampness is a significant problem. It damages the structural integrity of buildings, harms one’s health, and makes living in one’s house quite uncomfortable.

What Are The Types Of Dampness?

These are four different types of dampness listed below:

1. Rising Damp

The rising dampness is the first sort of wetness. The capillary motion explains the slow, upward moisture transfer from the ground via the bricks and mortar connecting pours. It has the potential to grow to a height of 2 meters in severe cases.

Causes

Rising dampness is a very uncommon type of moisture that affects building walls. Moisture from the ground rises through the walls due to capillary action. This means groundwater is drawn up through microscopic channels in the bricks like a series of straws.

Symptoms

• The lower parts of the walls are damp. Ascending the wall, patches of carpet on the floor, and scuffed skirting boards.
• Paint that is peeling and burning.
• Walls with wet patches.
• The walls are stained.
• Deposits of salt.

Solutions

Rising damp will very certainly necessitate the services of a specialist:

• First, ensure your home is equipped with a waterproof course or membrane. If you want to know if you have one, you’ll need to consult an expert.
• Water can infiltrate through the dirt and into the walls if the ground level is too high. In such a case, dig away the soil on the damp wall’s exterior to a level below the damp-proof course. The damp-proof course should be 15 cm above ground level. You can also use asphalt to protect the wall from water.

2. Lateral Damp

Lateral damp is a type of dampness where itspreads laterally in walls after penetrating through a wall from a higher exterior ground (earth retaining) or a higher adjoining concrete floor. It causes very damp walls and frequently causes more quick and severe internal damage.

Causes

• When dirt presses against a fractured or porous-material wall, groundwater can seep through and flood the wall because the soil grows wetter as you dig deeper into it, and the risk of damp lateral increases in deep cellars and basements.
• If hygroscopic salts from the surrounding soil permeate the walls, lateral dampness might worsen. In addition, these salts continually absorb moisture, even from the air, which can quickly exacerbate a damp problem by attacking the wall from two directions.
• Buildings on sloping land are likewise more vulnerable, as the gradual flow of groundwater downward adds to the strain on any barriers that get in the way.

Symptoms

• Water carries soluble salts through the wall, where they evaporate on the other side.
• As a result, structural deterioration and instability occur.
• Affects any floor that comes into contact with soil. However, basements are the most prevalent victims.
• Building materials are deteriorating.

Solutions

A damp survey should be carried out initially to determine the type and extent of the damp. Then, surveyors will examine the dampness and any structural difficulties it may have produced using specialized equipment.

A specialist will perform the most appropriate solution after determining the cause and scale of the dampness. Typically, this entails tanking the walls and allowing the exposed material to breathe. A professional tanking system will be installed to keep the walls impermeable and prevent the dampness from returning.

3. Condensation Damp

When the water vapour created in most homes reaches a more excellent surface, the water it contains is discharged. If this happens frequently enough, condensation will form. For example, suppose you notice moisture on your walls, furniture, or windows. This is a clear sign of condensation, which occurs when warm moist air collides with more excellent surfaces, releasing water.

Causes

Moisture condenses on walls, causing condensation. When warm, moist air comes into touch with a cold surface, such as the walls, the air can’t hold the moisture, causing water drops and mould to grow on the walls. Lack of ventilation, chilly surfaces, and a lack of central heating cause condensation.

Symptoms

Condensation dampness can be identified by:

• Droplets of water.
• Condensation on the insides of windows and walls.
• A musty odour.
• On the walls and ceilings, there is Dampness or mould.

Solutions

• If you live in northern India, you can deal with condensation by turning up the heat in cold weather.
• Putting in double glazing.
• You may improve ventilation by opening windows and installing air vents and fans.
• Making use of a dehumidifier.
• Putting in insulation.
• Wiping down windows and damaged areas with a cloth.

4. Penetration Damp

Water seeps into the home due to damage to the property’s weatherproofing. This could be due to a clogged gutter, leaking water taps, or rain penetrating the walls, generating moisture.

Causes

Water may be leaking through the walls for a variety of causes, including:

• Your roof’s rain gutters are broken or obstructed.
• The weatherproofing of bricks is eroding.
• Cracks in the outside walls.
• Bricks that have been damaged.
• Pipes that are leaking.
• Issues with the structure of the building.
• Cracks in the frames of windows and doors.
• Roof tiles that are missing or fractured.

Symptoms

• Skirting boards that have rotted.
• Damp patches will emerge on the walls. Windy and rainy weather is more likely to cause damp spots, which will dissipate once the storm has passed.
• Mold development and a stale odour.
• Plaster and plaster degradation, as well as paint blistering.

Solutions

To get rid of the moisture, figure out what’s producing it and address each issue separately:

• Roof tiles that are cracked or missing should be replaced and repaired.
• Replace porous bricks with water-resistant materials or paint them over.
• Fill up cracks in window frames and around door frames with caulk.
• Repair and clean guttering walls that have become clogged.
• Pipes that are leaking should be repaired.

What Are The Effects Of Dampness?

Listed below are the effects of dampness:

• Dampness encourages mosquito breeding and causes unsanitary living conditions.
• Moisture transport causes the plaster to weaken and crumble in the case of lime plaster.
• When moisture enters the floor, it loosens the flooring due to a drop in adhesion.
• If any electrical fittings come into contact with dampness in a building, it can be pretty harmful.
• The floor coverings have been ruined. As a result, no floor coverings should be utilized on damp floors.
• Termite growth is aided and accelerated by dampness.
• Dampness breeds bacteria that cause deadly diseases like tuberculosis, neuralgia, and rheumatism.
• Dampness causes metal fittings to corrode and rust.
• Timber fittings (such as doors, windows, and almirahs) deteriorate when they touch moist walls or floors due to warping, buckling, and dry rutting.
• Dampness in the wall also causes efflorescence.
• It can also cause bricks, stones, and tiles to disintegrate.
• Dampness wreaks havoc on wall decorations.
• Moisture travels through walls and ceilings due to humidity, causing ugly spots and affecting the building’s aesthetics.

Conclusion

We hope we helped you understand what dampness is as well as the types of dampness so that you can protect your building better. Moreover, you will find the most frequently asked questions on the effects of dampness below. However, if you want to know more about types of dampness, you can contact PropCheck.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about different types of damp:

1. What are the sources of Dampness?

The following are the origins of dampness:

• Moisture is rising from the earth. Capillary motion causes the moisture in the subsoil below the ground level to ascend through the foundation beds.
• The tops of the walls.
• From the outside walls.
• Condensation.

2. How can we detect dampness without intrusion? 

Thermal scanning can be used to detect dampness without causing any intrusion. A thermal imager monitors temperature changes induced by evaporation, capacitance, or conduction, and these processes can be influenced by weather conditions or internal humidity.

3. What are the two significant reasons for dampness?

The following are the two most common causes of dampness:

1. Moisture from the subsoil is rising through the foundation beds.
2. Rainwater seeps in via the cracks in the exterior walls.

4. What is dampness in construction?

Structural dampness is the presence of undesired moisture in a building’s structure, which can be caused by an incursion from the outside or condensation from within. Condensation and rain penetration, both of which are influenced by the ambient environment, are responsible for any damp problems in buildings.

5. How do you treat dampness?

• Invest in a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and are especially beneficial if you frequently dry clothing inside the house, which is another typical cause of excess humidity.
• Make sure your home is well-ventilated.
• Clean your sewers.
• Consider using damp-proof paint.
• Look for rot indicators.
• Free damp surveys should be avoided.

6. What are the effects of dampness?

The effects of dampness are as follows:

• The wooden section of the building suffers from dry rot, and the metals employed in construction suffer from corrosion.
• The plaster peels off or is removed.
• The paints become blistered.
• Resulting in the building’s floors remaining unsightly.