Why Is Having A Water Tight Home A Necessity?


Whether you are a first time buyer, renting an apartment you love or a seasoned family homeowner, damp can be devastating. Damp is typically caused by a build-up of moisture, a result of a trickling leak or moisture infiltrating the structure of your property. Whoever you are, and wherever you are on the property ladder, this guide is here to explain the different kinds of damp and why it’s important to ensure your home is watertight and secure! If you do recognise any of these signs in your home, it is vital you call on a professional for damp proofing London and UK residents can depend on. It will always be worth looking into the credentials and expertise of the services you are employing, as it is very easy for fake companies or cowboy traders to use fear or take advantage of limited understanding of the problem to charge huge fees for small jobs. 

Rising Damp – This is often the most common issue, but typically because it is one of the easiest to spot, especially if you are viewing a home or juts moving in. Rising damp is visually identifiable on the walls of a property where moisture has intruded. It can look like a large, wet stain on the wall that may or may not be moist to the touch. Rising damp is always particularly worrying for first time buyers or homeowner because their décor is often affected, with wallpaper peeling away from the wall and coving, skirting and white ceilings often discoloured and rotting. 

Lateral Damp – This is very similar to rising damp because the visual signs are very similar. The difference is that lateral dampness is caused by an external issue, such as missing tiles or something as simple as overflowing gutters. Dark spores and patches are also likely to appear on the walls or ceilings surrounding the leak. Plaster may also start to crumble. 

Penetrating Damp – This kind of damp is also caused by problems or failings on the outside of the property. Penetrating damp may escalate quickly, for example, after heavy rainfall. This can be because it has been caused by sub-par joists, leaking pipes, unsealed and faulty windows and doors and roofs that are no longer watertight. These can all be quite expensive to fix. 

Condensation – Condensation can be a more minor version of damp. Many people do not consider it to be a major problem, particularly if the problem is temporary. Condensation is caused by poor ventilation whilst there is too much moisture inside. Small changes, like opening windows whilst clothes are drying indoors or installing an extractor fan in the bathroom, can make all the difference. 

Why It’s Important To Get Your Home A Damp Survey? 
All the different kinds of damp or moisture leakage can cause mould, specifically black mould. These spores will start to grow and thrive in damp, moisture rich areas, particularly in the warm. This kind of mould can cause serious health concerns, particularly amongst young children, the elderly, the sick or anyone with a weakened immune system as well as animals. This happens by inhaling the microscopic particles that black mould produces. As we touched on when describing each kind of damp, if your home or property is not watertight, you could destroy your interiors. This can be extremely expensive to repair, especially for structural issues caused by penetrating or lateral damp. Even rising damp can incur specialist replastering costs, as well as the price of redecorating. 

Renovating Your Home? 
If you have bought a fixer-upper or are just looking to extend or renovate your property, it could be the perfect time for a damp survey. This is because damp and leaks can cause untold structural damage, including wood rot. This could threaten the structural integrity of the property, including any new extensions. Before you break ground on new works, it’s always worth making sure the existing building structure is sound and watertight.