Being affected by excessive dampness in any building can be very problematic. Not only can it lead to various breathing problems for sufferers of asthma and conditions alike, but it can also cause damage to the building’s walls, decorations and paintwork.
Causes of dampness
There are generally four main causes of dampness. At any given time, a building may be affected from either one, or from all four causes. These include:
Rising Damp – this is when dampness is noted towards the bottom of the wall (usually up until 1.5m) and is caused by moisture coming up through the ground and into the walls. Rising damp is particularly common throughout older buildings/heritage buildings where damp courses had not been installed, or if they had been installed the product was of inferior quality.
For more information on rising damp and how to prevent it, please click here.
Lateral Damp – Lateral damp only affects external walls and happens when water makes its way in from the outside. Like rising damp, lateral damp is very prominent in older buildings, but can also be seen in newer structures.
For more information on lateral damp and the treatment process, feel free to click here.
Penetration Damp – Penetration damp is usually caused by leaking roofs, gutters, downpipes, etc. To treat penetration damp, a damp proofing specialist will first attend to the problem in conjunction with an approved damp proof injection applicator.
Condensation – Condensation is the number one cause of dampness and can be found throughout any type of home. Generally speaking, condensation will be most prominent in buildings with poor ventilation.
For more information on condensation and ways to prevent it, please see our sub-floor ventilation page here.
