Household Damp - How To Deal With It

Dampness in the home is never a welcomed sight. Whether you’re looking over a potential new property or dealing with condensation issues in your rented home, spotting the signs of damp can be an indicator of something more serious. And, if left untreated, can create rooms that feel uncomfortably cold or accelerate respiratory diseases. Here at Sealant & Tools Direct, we have an army of tools and equipment available to help you tackle household damp but in this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to get started.

What Causes Dampness In The Home?

Damp is excess moisture that has built up within a building. This build-up can be found within the walls, on window and door frames or around the perimeter of your rooms. Normally, this dampness only comes to light when we see the signs of it - some of which we will discuss later on in this guide. The causes of damp are normally linked to poor ventilation and leaks in plumbing systems.

Ventilation

A good ventilation system helps you to effectively manage airflow throughout the building. It helps to evaporate and draw out excessive levels of moisture that could be damaging. Ventilation will also reduce draughts and prevent you from running up heating or cooling bills throughout the year. A well-structured system will eliminate moisture, smoke, cooking odours and other pollutants found in the air in our homes.

Leaks

While leaks in your plumbing system will commonly only impact a small area of the building, they can be a sign of more severe issues throughout the entire network. Complications such as broken pipes, corrosion and extensive blockages can manifest themselves as smaller-scale leaks - some of which can cause significant issues throughout your property if ignored.

Types Of Household Damp

While it’s relatively easy to spot household damp when it gets to a certain level, understanding which type of damp is present will help you to understand how to approach it. There are 3 main types - condensation, rising damp and penetrating damp.

Condensation

One of the most common forms of household damp, condensation occurs when cold external air comes into contact with warm internal air. It is commonly seen on windows where droplets form on the glass. Wipe these away and you’ll be able to see out the window once more. But, if the moisture is left to sit or this happens regularly, the moisture could impact the structure of the walls. If it is allowed to sit in the corner of windows, you may notice black mould or mildew growing.

Condensation normally indicates that a home has weak spots and thermal bridges within the insulated envelope. It highlights excessive humidity in a property - namely in environments where high water usage is common, such as kitchens, bathrooms and basements.

Rising Damp

Normally found in homes built before 1975, rising damp is when the moisture found in the ground moves up into the structure of a building. Modern homes are now built with damp proof membranes to prevent this from happening. However, if you do spot signs such as staining on paintwork, blistering or damaged skirting boards, you will need to call in a professional as quickly as possible. Rising damp is very serious and can impact the structure of your property, making it unsafe to be in.

Penetrating Damp

Known by some as lateral damp, penetrating damp is when moisture builds in the structure of the walls, across the roof and commonly in the lower ground area of a building. The repercussions of penetrating damp can be significant. If left untreated, this moisture can break down the fibres in your building’s materials, causing structural damage over time. It is commonly caused by leaking roofs, overflowing gutters, leaking downpipes or damaged walls.

Signs Of Household Damp

Thankfully, most of the most common signs of household damp are easily identified. While you may not know what is causing this issue, you will likely spot the issue early on. Some of the most common signs include:

• An unpleasant, musty and unexplained smell.
• Discoloured patches on the walls or plaster.
• Black mould or marks in the corners of rooms and windows.
• Peeling wallpaper.
• Excessive condensation on windows occurs regularly.
• Increased humidity.
• Cold walls or floors that may also feel wet to the touch.
• A white powder, like salt.
• Floorboards or coverings beginning to life.
• Skirting boards with rot or damage.

Preventing Mould And Organism Growth

When you first notice any of the signs of household dampness, it is important to call in professionals. This is to make sure that what you’re seeing isn’t a sign of something more serious. You’ll need to have your internal pipeworks checked and potentially use a moisture detector to make sure the levels aren’t too high within your walls. These preventative measures are vital - you need to solve the problem from the source.

Once you have established the issues aren’t more severe, or if you have had these problems rectified, you can approach the aesthetical problems. Mould spores multiply when exposed to high moisture content so you need to kill these off to prevent them from coming back. An effective fast-acting solution, such as the Everbuild Internal and External Fungicidal Wash removes fungus while leaving behind a residual surface to prevent further growth. It kills mould and can also be used on roofs before being coated with bituminous coatings.

We recommend wearing protective Latex Cleaning Gloves during application - both to prevent exposure to the chemicals used and the mould itself. If you are working on a large-scale infestation, consider Safety Dust Masks and Safety Glasses. While this may seem excessive for a cleaning job, mould spores can cause serious respiratory problems and optometry illnesses too. Make sure the surface is wiped clean and dried with a soft cloth after use.

Repairing/Preventing Household Damp Damage

As we mentioned above, you need to find the source of the issue before tackling the impact it has had on your home. Repairing the damage afterwards should always focus on improving ventilation and airflow throughout a property. You may want to:

• Ensure you properly ventilate your home by opening the windows for periods, even during the winter.
• Buy an Internal Dehumidifier that will draw moisture out of the air and prevent damp, mould, mildew and condensation.
• Check your gutters and have them cleaned to prevent the build-up.
• Have your plumbing and pipework checked regularly.
• Consider Damp Proof Paint which can reduce the impact of high condensation and humidity on your walls.

Household damp can be devastating if left untreated. But, with the right support and products, it’s easy to keep on top of any airflow or moisture-control issue. At Sealant & Tools Direct, we have a team of experts on hand to help you find the right solution for your issue. If you are concerned about household dampness and need some advice, please do get in contact here today.