What is Damp Proofing?

Dampproofing is effective as long term prevention to moisture decay. When it comes to walls and foundations, dampproofing prevents moisture and water passing through into interior spaces.

Cause of damp – leaks

Leaks can often be a major cause of damp within a property leading to issues such as penetrating damp and wet rot.  Generally, the result of a leak will be localised to one area of a wall.  If you notice localised damp patches, check the following:

• Examine downpipes and gutters within the affected area. Is water escaping or are the water management systems faulty leading to the damp issue inside?
  
• Look for damage, cracks, faulty joints or poor/corroded seals. Is there an obvious fault leading to the water ingress?
• Ensure that your drains and downpipes are not blocked. Rain water can very easily be backed up forcing itself out of a pipe joint within the affected area.
• If the damp is below a flat roof, or a roof channel, check that the felt is sound.
• If the damp is below a window, check the window frame and window sill. Badly fitted windows will let damp penetrate into a room affecting the internal plaster round about the window.

Rising Damp

If you are on the ground floor and the damp seems to localised to the bottom of your walls, then it could be that the cause of damp is the result of your damp proof course being bridged or potentially faulty resulting in rising damp.

If it is the case whereby the damp proof course has been bridged, consider if there are any external features installed within the affected area such as a flower bed or new patio. Could there be an excess amount of soil against the wall from some recent gardening that has bridged the damp proof course? By simply lowering the ground level or removing any of these features and leaving the area to dry out, you could solve your rising damp issue.

If it is the case the damp proof course has not been bridged, then it might be the issue that your damp proof course has failed meaning that you will need to consider repairing it.

Condensation

It is not always the case whereby the cause of damp originates from the outside. The most common causes of damp within homes is due to condensation.

Condensation occurs when large quantities of water vapour from general everyday living becomes trapped within a property. When the warm moist damp air comes into contact with cooler air, or a surface which is at a lower temperature, the result is condensation. This can prove ideal for the germination of the commonly associated with black mould.

The key to solving condensation, however, is consistent heating and ventilation. By improving air ventilation within a property, you will generally have a beneficial impact on reducing the amount of condensation and black mould issues that you are experiencing within a property.

Lateral Damp

Lateral damp penetration is a cause of penetrating damp; when the external ground level is higher than the building so moisture is able to penetrate the walls. Penetrating damp is usually classed as any kind of water that makes it’s way in from the outside, and can also be caused by missing roof tiles, overflowing gutters, leaking pipes, and other structural problems with the building.