Penetrating Damp Wallsend
Penetrating Damp Wallsend & North Tyneside
As if dealing with rising damp and condensation wasn’t enough penetrating damp can be a confusing and frustrating problem that can also plague homeowners. Penetrating damp in Wallsend and North Tyneside It is extremely common yet there is less information online than other type of dampness.
Unlike rising damp and condensation penetrating damp is most often caused by building defects, deterioration, poor workmanship & irregular property maintenance all of which an happen in isolation or simultaneously.
Understanding and Identifying Penetrating Damp
Unlike rising damp, penetrating damp can enter the property from multiple directions from various entry points such as roofs, ceilings walls and basements.
Some initial indicators of identifying penetrating damp which you may notice particularly during winter months or heavy rainfall include visible puddles of water, damp patches on internal walls or ceilings, staining or black mould to one single area. This could lead to a misdiagnosis believing it to be condensation or even rising damp if the affected area is below 1.5 m from ground floor level. Take a good look around your house for signs of blocked or leaking gutters, damaged pipes, or cracks in your walls.
There are two different types of penetrating damp, namely, lateral damp and vertical (also known as ‘falling’) damp.
Lateral Penetrating Damp
Lateral penetrating damp is most likely to occur when water passes through a wall in a horizontal direction. It usually happens from outside walls. Many times, the water also carries soluble salts that eventually move through the wall and evaporate onto the surface to cause stains everywhere.
Possible signs of lateral penetrating damp include staining, blistering paint, salty deposits and efflorescence at any height on a wall.
Vertical Penetrating Damp
The difference between vertical and lateral penetrating damp is that vertical penetrating damp enters your house from the top of the building to the bottom. Vertical damp is usually caused by defects in the construction and its poor maintenance. Some of the most common causes of vertical penetrating damp are faulty or blocked guttering, broken roof tiles, defective rainwater leaking.
Vertical penetrating damp is often misdiagnosed and confused with condensation, but there is a way to distinguish them correctly. The most reliable way to discern between rising damp and dampness due to condensation is to compare moisture content in the masonry or mortar. If the inside of the wall is damp, it is rising dam
p. You can use an electrical moisture meter to determine the moisture content. Rising damp can rise up to 1.5 metres or higher.
Costs, Causes & Remedies for Treating Penetrating Damp
Determining the cost to fix penetrating damp is not a clear cut nor is there a one size fits all solution. This article discusses what it would cost you to fix penetrating damp around the four main entry points windows, walls, roof and ceiling which will provide information potential external and internal repairs that form part of all of the underlying cause that need to be taken into consideration to ensure that any remedial works are affective
Once you have determined that the problem is penetrating damp and identified the source and cause (or causes), you can now consider the best way to rectify this by looking at the remedies available the cost of repairs both internally and externally.
These may include faulty leakage through walls, ceilings, and basements, overflowing gutters, leaking or blocked pipes, damaged pointing and flashing, poorly installed windows and missing roof tiles.
In addition to any external repairs recommended internal remedial work could include damp proofing the entire brick wall. Not damp proofing in the traditional sense as usually when someone refers to damp proofing this tends to be for the treatment of rising damp which involves inserting a new chemical damp proof course (DPC).
For penetrating damp, a new DPC is unlikely to be required unless this has damaged any existing damp proof course. If however the surface plaster has been damaged and the wall has high moisture content then in order to guarantee replastering and a ready to decorate surface surface plaster should be removed followed by Installing a damp proof membrane which is without doubt the most effective way to create a physical barrier between a damp wall and newly finished plaster.
Stop Penetrating Damp – 7 top tips to prevent penetrating damp
Prevention is cheaper than cure. The best way to stop penetrating damp is to prevent its occurrence in the first place or at least stop it reoccurring
The following will help you to prevent it:
1) Be vigilant. Always check the seals, connections and waste pipes on domestic appliances regularly.
2) Check your loft regularly to know if the water is coming through the roof.
3) Check all your exterior walls for decay, crumbling or cracks.
4) Regularly test moisture levels with an electronic moisture meter.
5) Check that the downpipes are clear and household appliances are not leaking.
6) Make sure there are no cracks in your rendering.
7) When purchasing a property spend the extra money for a Homebuyers survey or full
structural survey from a RICS chartered surveyor.
How to Book an Inspection for to Treat Penetrating Damp in Wallsend and North Tyneside?
Many Damp proofing companies offering penetrating damp treatment in Wallsend and North Tyneside will offer potential clients a free visual inspection, and others may charge a nominal fee £50.00 to £150.00 for a visual report and non-destructive testing. If a fee is paid this is typically deducted from the cost or any remedial works if the client proceeds. If you are purchasing a property the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Surveyor acting on behalf of the bank, building society or mortgage lender may request a Damp and Timber Report to be carried out. Usually, an estate agent will have a good relationship with a North East damp and timber specialist like ourselves who can provide this.
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Professional advice from local North East Damp & Timber specialists for the most appropriate remedial solutions for all damp and timber treatments.
