For everyone, home is their personal space, where they will get the utmost comfort. All want their dream home to be safer and attractive. They can spend a hefty amount to increase the beauty of their precious living space. But the dampness is similar to the virus attached to their dear home. As a homeowner, you must know about dampness. In today’s blog of Brick & Bolt, you are going to identify dampness, recognise its causes, learn how to dampproof your home and deal with existing damp issues.
What Is Damp?
Damp is the presence of excess moisture or humidity in a room or a building. It is generally seen in walls, floors, or ceilings. It can cause a huge issue to the buildings infrastructure and for the health of people living in that building.
What are Different Types of Damp?
Generally, there are three major types of dampness:
- Rising Damp
- Condensation Damp
- Penetrating Damp
1. Rising Damp
Rising dampness is a comparatively rare damp condition affecting the ground floor walls. It is caused due to the capillary action, where the moisture content from the ground level moves upwards through the walls. Normally rising dampness is initially noticed due to the damage it drives to the internal walls of your house. The affected wall. An observable stain appears on the wall in the shape of a tide mark at the point where the groundwater has reached.
2. Penetrating Damp
Penetrating dampness is due to the water leaking through walls. This is mainly caused due to faulty guttering, roof leakage, or cracks in external walls. This issue can be easy to solve if you can identify the cause. It can take some time for the moisture to evaporate.
3. Condensation Damp
This is the most general type of dampness, Which is as easy to remove as it forms. When humid air comes in contact with a cold surface such as a wall, window, mirror, etc.—condensation happens. Tiny drops of water occur because the moisture in the air is too much for it to hold. Airborne water vapor can originate from plants, human respiration, and even naturally. Even though you can’t see it, your house has it. Water vapor is harmless and freely floats throughout your home. It only starts to get more problematic when it comes into contact with something cold. The best method for getting rid of condensation dampness is ventilation.
What are the Indications of Damp Problems?
You can easily find the dampness in your home. The following are some of the indications to look out for:
Musty Smell
Most of the time, damp issues expose themselves because of their musty smell. If your nose is sharp enough, you can easily identify this smell in the damped areas such as walls, floors, and ceilings.
Peeling Wallpaper or Paint
Damping walls can cause paint to fade, wallpaper to peel, and crumbling plaster. Keep an eye out for these indicators, especially if plaster is crumbling at the base of walls, as this may indicate rising dampness.
Visible Mold Growth
One of the most obvious indicators of moisture in the house is mold. On walls, ceilings, and around the frames of windows and doors, visible black mold will form due to the dampness. It may be dangerous if ignored, especially for people who have respiratory conditions like asthma.
Damp Ceilings, Walls, and Stains
If your walls or ceilings feel wet to the touch or if you notice spots on plaster that are brown or yellow, you probably have a damp problem.
Rotting Skirting Boards
Rotten wood, such as skirting boards, may indicate the presence of rising humidity. If rising moisture takes hold, damp skirting may also begin to separate from the wall or crumble underfoot, and wooden floorboards may start to rot.
What are the Damp Prevention Techniques?
When you compare treating the dampness with prevention, it is always easier and cost-saving. The following are some major prevention strategies you can apply:
- Proper Ventilation: Make sure your house is properly ventilated. Particularly in the bathroom and kitchen areas, as they are high-moisture areas. You can use exhaust fans and different types of windows or proper air circulation.
- Maintaining Gutters and Downspouts: Regularly check the gutters for cleanliness and well-being. If not, repair to prevent water from overflowing and seeping into walls.
- Addressing External Ground Levels: Always ensure the ground level around your home slopes away from the foundation to avoid water accumulation.
- Water-Repellent Treatments: You can apply waterproof sealants to exterior walls. It will be more helpful if you live in high rainfall area.
What are the Damp Proofing Solutions?
The following are the commonly used damp proofing techniques:
1. Damp-Proof Courses (D.P.C.)
The DPC (Damp Proof Course) stops groundwater from seeping into the walls and causing damage to your home. The optimal placement of the DPC is at the plinth level for buildings with a basement, or at least 15 cm above ground level for buildings without a plinth level. A DPC might be vertical or horizontal. All masonry walls, whether load-bearing or partitioning, often have a DPC layer installed underneath them. A damp-proof membrane (DPM) is a membrane material that is applied to prevent moisture transfer. Polyethylene sheeting is often used beneath a concrete slab to prevent moisture absorption by capillary action.
2. Waterproof Surface Treatments
The surface treatment aims to fill in the pores of the material that has come into contact with moisture by applying an external or internal thin layer of substance that repels water. Dampness can be effectively avoided with external treatment. Many surface treatments are used on both the internal and visible surfaces, including pointing, plastering, painting, and distempering. Lime cement plaster (1:6)—a mixture of one part of cement and six parts of lime—is the most widely used treatment to keep the walls dry. Sodium or potassium silicate is commonly used as a water-proofing ingredient in surface treatments.
3. Guniting
Guniting is a dry-mix shotcrete technology that improves water resistance and prevents dampness. A thick, rich mix of cement mortar (1:3) or fine aggregate mix is applied on exposed walls and pipe surfaces. On that surface, the applied mortar hardens, strengthens, and repels water. This method of damp proofing is very useful during structure retrofitting and repairing old concrete works or monument structures.
4. Cementation or Pressure Grouting
Cementation is a dampproofing method, where a cement, sand, and water combination is pressurised, grouting into the ground’s fissures, voids, and cracks in the structural element. This treatment is typically applied to the foundations to prevent moisture intrusion. This method is also used to build water cut-offs to stop seepage, restore structures, and consolidate the earth to increase bearing capacity.
Conclusion
Dampproofing is a major aspect of the longevity and health of your home. Every rupee you spend on your home construction is priceless. You must understand the dampproofing techniques to avoid dampness in your home. By understanding the various types of dampness, you can easily identify and address these issues early. By considering the symptoms of dampness, such as rotting wood, musty odours, peeling paint, visible mold, and wet walls, you can start to use dampproofing solutions. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential to keep your living space dry, safe, and comfortable.
For more detailed advice and professional assistance, consider consulting with experts like Brick & Bolt. Taking proactive measures against dampness will ensure your home remains a secure and pleasant haven for years to come.