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Dampness

Which are various types of dampness in the building and their treatment?

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There are five types of dampness generally found in homes:

1.Rising damp or "salt damp" in brick walls and masonry.

2.Poor drainage.

3.Falling damp.

4.Horizontal penetrating dampness.

5.Condensation dampness.

1.RISING DAMP OR SALT DAMP:

CAUSES:

Brick and masonry absorb water so they must be sealed off, away from moisture and moisture-bearing substances like soil. If it does not occur, the water will rise in the walls causing dampness.

When the dampness evaporates it creates cold wet conditions in solid brick houses and leaves the corrosive salts behind which were dissolved in the water.

TREATMENT:

The problem could have been cured by removing the shed simply allowing the wall to dry out followed by the treatment the outside surface with a coat of silicone to fill any capillaries.

2.POOR DRAINAGE :

CAUSE:

Built-up garden beds, sloping ground or falling damp could direct water under the house. This shows poor drainage.

TREATMENT:

Drain this away via agricultural drains sloping away from the house, bedded in loose aggregate.

3.FALLING DAMP:

CAUSES:

Breakage and leakage from storm water pipes, roofs, gutters and downpipes.

Excessive dampness which is limited to localized patches in soils and the walls indicates this type of fault.

TREATMENT:

Minor problems can be patched with bituminous tape or similar.

If problems persist, contact a licensed plumber for major repairs.

4. HORIZONTAL DAMPNESS:

CAUSES:

Elementary horizontal dampness occurs when badly porous brick walls receive direct rain.

Elementary horizontal damp is also caused by earth bridging damp-proof courses.

This type of dampness occurs due to obstructions of accumulating water on exterior walls.

TREATMENT:

Horizontal dampness is easily remedied by removing the bridge.

The wall can be sealed by the application of a waterproof coating.

Painting on silicone admixtures is simplest but will require re-painting every few years while bituminous paint or similar lasts longer.

5.CONDENSATION DAMPNESS:

CAUSES:

Condensation in the home results from damp air.

It causes through still outside air or extreme temperature fluctuations inside the house.

In most cases, condensation will lead to mould growth and unhealthy living conditions.

TREATMENT:

Water vapour -producing fixtures like clothes-dryers, stoves and showers need to be ventilated.

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1 Comment(s)

By Anonymous - On 12/1/2008 6:54:35 PM

hi under my kids bedroom window is gone all black and i only painted it again,each morning the window leadge is soaked with water evev doe its not raining outside


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- On 7/5/2007 - 1501 View(s) - 1 Comment(s)