There are 6 different types of damps that you should be aware of in case your home ever suffers from any of them. It’s not uncommon for your house to be affected by any of the six or a combination. Each type of damp requires different treatments, so it is essential to understand what to look out for.
Below we have provided a list of key features regarding each damp type.
Below we have provided a list of key features regarding each damp type.
1) Condensation – Damp from the Air
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Condensation is the most common form of dampness and can be caused by poor ventilation. It occurs when moist air hits cold surfaces and then condenses on the surfaces. Here’s what to look out for:
* If it exists, you can find it in places such as corners, near windows, behind wardrobes, on the ceiling or where there is little movement of air.
* Shows up as black patches of mildew.
* It can also appear inside walls and insulation or under floors.
* It can make your clothes smell like soft furnishings.
* It is harmful to human health.
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Condensation is the most common form of dampness and can be caused by poor ventilation. It occurs when moist air hits cold surfaces and then condenses on the surfaces. Here’s what to look out for:
* If it exists, you can find it in places such as corners, near windows, behind wardrobes, on the ceiling or where there is little movement of air.
* Shows up as black patches of mildew.
* It can also appear inside walls and insulation or under floors.
* It can make your clothes smell like soft furnishings.
* It is harmful to human health.
2) Rising damp – Damp from the ground directly below your home
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Rising damp is when water from the ground underneath or next to your walls rises up through bricks and mortar of a building by capillary action (where water is sucked through a small opening such as a tube or hole).
* Rising damp usually only affects the basement or ground floor rooms as they are at the foundation.
* It shows up in various ways, including skirting boards/timber rotting, fluffy deposits on your plaster or even your wallpaper showing a yellow or brown ‘tide line’.
* Common in houses that have had their original ground floors changed to concrete.
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Rising damp is when water from the ground underneath or next to your walls rises up through bricks and mortar of a building by capillary action (where water is sucked through a small opening such as a tube or hole).
* Rising damp usually only affects the basement or ground floor rooms as they are at the foundation.
* It shows up in various ways, including skirting boards/timber rotting, fluffy deposits on your plaster or even your wallpaper showing a yellow or brown ‘tide line’.
* Common in houses that have had their original ground floors changed to concrete.
3) Penetrating damp – Damp from the rain or the ground against the wall.
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Penetrating damp can be caused by the lack of an escape route for moisture entering the structure or an increase in moisture that overloads the escape route.
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Penetrating damp can be caused by the lack of an escape route for moisture entering the structure or an increase in moisture that overloads the escape route.
4) Chemical damp – Damp from salt contamination
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Chemical damp can be caused by contamination of the plaster with hygroscopic salts. The salts absorb moisture directly from the air. This could have occurred when the house was built or have happened at any time for a variety of reasons.
* It can appear on any surface that can be plastered.
* Seen often on chimney breasts.
* Shows up as patches of brown staining.
* The patches can grow larger if left unchecked.
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Chemical damp can be caused by contamination of the plaster with hygroscopic salts. The salts absorb moisture directly from the air. This could have occurred when the house was built or have happened at any time for a variety of reasons.
* It can appear on any surface that can be plastered.
* Seen often on chimney breasts.
* Shows up as patches of brown staining.
* The patches can grow larger if left unchecked.
5) Damp from poor plumbing
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Damp from poor plumbing typically takes effect because of the type of metal used in the plumbing itself. It can be corrosion of the plumbing or joints that were not fully watertight when new.
* Normally shows up as small damp patches.
* Common in houses with heating pipes buried under solid floors.
* Plaster may bubble around the edges of the patches if damp is present.
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Damp from poor plumbing typically takes effect because of the type of metal used in the plumbing itself. It can be corrosion of the plumbing or joints that were not fully watertight when new.
* Normally shows up as small damp patches.
* Common in houses with heating pipes buried under solid floors.
* Plaster may bubble around the edges of the patches if damp is present.
6) Damp from walls/floors drying out
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This can be caused by deep moisture within a building trying to make its way out. It can take months or even years to dry thoroughly.
* Damp patches can appear on surfaces not affected by the building work or flooding but nearby.
* Shows up as damp patches without any brown staining.
* Common after a period of building work, flooding, or a long-term plumbing leak.
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This can be caused by deep moisture within a building trying to make its way out. It can take months or even years to dry thoroughly.
* Damp patches can appear on surfaces not affected by the building work or flooding but nearby.
* Shows up as damp patches without any brown staining.
* Common after a period of building work, flooding, or a long-term plumbing leak.
