Any masonry structure unprotected by a properly installed damp course (DPC) to prevent rising damp is susceptible to natural rising damp. Damp will rise by capillary action through the pores of the masonry seeking a means of evaporation.
The moisture will continue to rise until it reaches a height where, unless no evaporation is possible, gravity takes over and pulls it down again. This height is normally no more than 1.5m, although deposits of ‘salts’ may be found higher in the wall.
Damp walls are a lot colder and retain a lot less heat then dry walls so to help keep your house warm and your energy bills down Dampproofing is an important if not essential step.
Penetrating damp (or lateral damp) is the horizontal ingress of moisture through the building walls. Penetrating damp normally presents on external walls and forms as isolated patches of dampness which increase in size after periods of heavy rain. This is because when rainwater comes into regular contact with the wall saturation occurs. Consequently, penetrating damp predominantly happens in areas exposed to severe weather conditions.
Penetrating damp is usually due to one or more building defects, for instance a leaking rainwater pipe or faulty joints between windows and walls. However, the most likely cause is defective brickwork, such as bricks which have become porous with age, frost damaged bricks, deterioration of mortar joints and/or cracked renders.
From breathing to boiling the kettle, condensation is simply the moisture caused by everyday living. Moisture is abundant in the warm atmosphere of your property, but when the property cools down this moisture will condense and settle on cool surfaces, ventilation of the moisture in the air is key. Thankfully, there are various condensation treatments that can deal with the problem no matter how severe it gets, from an air brick to a PPU (positive pressure unit) we have the solution for you.
For any further information or for a free no obligation quotation call us on:
07557 045525
or
01482 869525
Alternativley you can email us at:
alex@hulldamp.co.uk