Penetrating damp, rising damp and even condensation can cause serious damage if your property isn’t properly protected.
Without appropriate treatment, damp can lead to serious structural issues, unpleasant and hazardous living conditions, and expensive repairs.
Damp proofing is vital. In this article, the experts at Atlantis Damp explain how to damp proof your home.
What Is Damp Proofing?
Damp proofing is essential if you want to keep your home structurally sound and safe to live in.
But what exactly is damp proofing?
There are three main types of damp that could affect your home. These are rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation. Damp proofing aims to combat rising damp.
There are several ways to tackle damp issues within a property, but the main methods will involve a combination of the following:
- Repairing and maintaining infrastructures such as drains and gutters to reduce risk of penetrating damp
- Making structural improvements, such as installing a damp-proof course to reduce the risk of rising damp
- Improving ventilation to avoid condensation
What Happens If Damp Is Left Untreated?
If damp is left untreated, it can cause serious structural problems within your home. Importantly, toxic black mould can also cause health problems to residents, which is why it’s so important to have problems fixed as soon as possible.
If damp is left untreated, you could experience the following problems in your home:
- Damaged wallpaper, plaster boards and decoration
- Damaged walls and timber supports
- Fungal growths and musty smells
- Crumbling masonry and brickwork
- Respiratory illnesses
- Serious structural damage to property
What Is the Best Method of Damp Proofing?
Damp proofing involves protecting your home against unwanted moisture and water entering the property.
This can be as simple as opening windows when showering to avoid condensation build-ups, or it could require more complex work, such as installing a chemical damp-proof course to protect against rising damp.
Your home will need to be protected against all three types of damp, and you will need to use the following methods to do so:
- Ventilation: opening windows; installing extractor fans or dehumidifiers to stop condensation. Whole house, PIV ventilation units are often recommended.
- Removing potential water sources: fixing broken guttering pipes or installing better drainage systems to remove water sources that can cause dampness.
- Damp-Proof Course: installing a damp-proof course (usually a chemical damp-proof course that’s injected into the walls) to create a waterproof barrier that stops water from rising from the earth up the walls of your home.
- Groundwork: lowering the ground level around your home to ensure water can’t seep in from the outside. An internal tanking solution may also be recommended when external levels remain higher than internal floor levels.
Why Is It Better to Hire Damp Proofing Specialists to Damp Proof Your Home?
If you need to damp proof your home, it’s always best to hire a damp proofing specialist to carry out the work.
Damp proofing is complex, as there are multiple types of damp that need to be protected against, across a property.
Different types of damp require different solutions, so it’s important to have an expert identify the cause of problems and highlight the best way to treat the damp and protect against it in the future.
Contact Atlantis Damp to Find Out More About Damp Proofing Your Home
Atlantis Damp’s experienced team of damp proofing specialists will ensure that your property is fully protected.
Contact our friendly staff today to find out how we can damp proof your home.
