Damp Problems
Recent research has shown that 80% of houses in the United Kingdom have problems due to damp, a source of
irritation and misery for both occupants and house owners. Excessive damp can be caused by a wide range of
factors, and many of us think that the problems arising from this excessive damp are beyond our control.
Excessive damp is usually caused by:
- Rising damp
- Condensation
- Penetration of rainwater owing to poor construction, ageing or unfortunate location of the building (east side condensation and/or west side rain)
The damaging result of damp is clearly visible.
Increasingly, problems arise because of wall insulation in newly built as well as existing houses. Cavity insulation can have a dramatic impact on the ventilation within the cavity. Ventilation is essential in order to prevent condensation within the wall. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to use insulation materials that are pervious to water vapour when insulating a cavity wall, as these enable the wall to breathe in a natural way. Cavity insulation is not the only cause of trouble: double glazing and tightening all chinks and cracks in the house also frequently lead to an enormous increase in the relative humidity indoors. One of the most noticeable effects of a substantial increase in the humidity level inside the house is saturated walls. Wet walls are very good transmitters of heat and therefore have a negative impacts on your energy bill while insulation is actually meant to reduce your bills!
Without sufficient air circulation or maximum insulation there's often a damp problem.
The consequences: condensation, wallpaper will come down, mould and a musty smell in the house.
The first signs of an over-abundance of damp are usually visible in the house.
Condensation on windows, the wall paper is coming down, fungus and mould (for example behind closets),
visible wet spots on walls and ceilings, rotting carpets and worst of all, an unmistakably musty smell throughout
the house. The paintwork is usually affected and the decay of floors and wooden window frames is irreversible.
Replacing windows frames and redecorating (plastering or painting) walls is expensive. Moreover, these are
temporary measures since nothing is done to tackle the source of the problem -damp-. For years people heave tried
to find solutions for these problems. This was resulted in all kinds of damp courses, the application of
waterproof coatings on walls and injecting or impregnating walls with chemical solutions. These methods however
have one big disadvantage: they obstruct the natural circulation of water damp in the walls. This causes the
relative humidity in the house to rise, which in turn causes problems in other areas. There is also an increased
risk of frost damage, loose pointing and cracks appearing in walls. Moreover, these methods are usually geared
towards removing a single cause of the problem, while ignoring the fact that damp is often caused by a number of
factors.it also can cause ugly looking spots.
In addition to the visible effects of excessive damp, damp can pose a health risk for the inhabitants. These risks are often underestimated. Studies show that in the Netherlands more than 3 million people who are susceptible, suffer illnesses and disorder because of damp. Chronic disorders of the respiratory organs and illnesses such as asthma, rheumatism or T.B. can be exaggerated by a high relative humidity.
For inhabitants thermal comfort is crucial and depends on both air and wall temperatures. A dry wall is a better insulator than a wet wall. A dry wall gives off more warmth and therefore ensures a reduction in the air temperature (and also heating temperature), while maintaining the same thermal comfort.
In short, dry walls not only mean a healthier living environment, lower repair costs and are more pleasing to the eye, but also offer savings on heating bills.
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