Why damp proof your home?

What is damp?

More correctly referred to as structural damp, it’s the presence of unwanted moisture in the walls, floors or roof of your property. Damp is dangerous because it causes secondary damage to the structure of a property – peeling plaster and paint, rotting roof trusses or window frames and even crumbling mortar and bricks. Left untreated, the result is a decaying property a fraction of its former value.

But that’s not all – damp can cause health problems, too. Damp environments encourage the growth of moulds, fungi and bacteria, which can lead to infections, allergies, asthma or even immunological diseases.

What causes damp in walls, in houses and around windows?

In order to correct your damp problem, you need to identify the damp source. There are three main causes of structural damp:

• Penetrating damp – a common form of damp, it’s when moisture gains a foothold in the structure of a building though a weak point, like porous bricks, missing or cracked roof tile or gaps in window frames.

• Rising damp – this is when moisture from the earth slowly rises upwards through porous building materials through a process known as capillary action.

• Condensation – the air we breathe always contains some moisture; more in humid conditions and less in dry conditions. As air cools, it starts changing state from a gas to a liquid. As it reaches saturation point, little droplets of water are formed, and this is known as condensation. Condensation often accumulates in the corners of window frames and on cold surfaces. General household activities like bathing or showering, cooking or using the tumble dryer can cause condensation in the home.

What is damp proofing?

Damp proofing involves applying an impermeable material to walls to prevent moisture seeping through from the exterior to the interior, protecting a structure from penetrating damp, rising damp and condensation.

Getting rid of damp

Considering the risk to human occupants and to the value of your investment, damp must be properly treated. Here’s where Coating Work comes in. All Coating Worx managers are well-trained in damp proofing solutions and have state-of-the-art damp meters to assess damp problems.

Remember folks: Commercial and domestic painting projects should be assessed, not only in terms of the painting requirements, but should also address damp issues. Factor the cost of damp proofing into your project budget – it’ll save you money down the line.

For damp proofing services, contact Coating Worx now