Understanding Rising, Penetrating, and Condensation Damp
It’s just a fact of nature that London weather tends to be on the wet side most of the year. Considering that, it’s not too surprising that London homes are plagued with problems related to dampness, such as structural damage and poor indoor air quality. Dampness is a big problem, and it’s made more complicated by there being three different types- rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation damp!
The best way to know what kind of damp is making your home wet and uncomfortable is to arrange for our free Damp survey in London so we can identify it, and help you solve the problem! To get things started, we will examine the three forms of dampness, along with their distinct characteristics and causes.
Let’s first define the concept of dampness as a whole. Dampness is a blanket term for the presence of undesirable moisture inside a structure and its manifestation in three main forms, as follows:
Rising Damp – This type of damp happens when moisture in the ground is absorbed through porous building materials like wood, bricks, and mortar. The damp rises through the material by capillary action, similar to how a sponge absorbs water. Rising damp is able to flow through tiny cracks counter to the pull of gravity, the capillary action drawing the water upwards inside your home’s interior and exterior walls.
The tell-tale signs of rising damp are a musty smell in the home, damp stains on the wall’s lower sections, and plaster that has grown soft, wet, and crumbly. It also leaves water marks in the form of white salt deposits on the walls, a phenomenon called efflorescence. There are a variety of rising damp treatments available that your damp survey specialist can recommend.
Penetrating Damp – This type of damp occurs when water from external sources like rain, leaks, or faulty plumbing is able to find its way into a structure. Penetrating damp affects your home’s floors, walls, and ceilings. Rather than coming up from the ground, it tends to spread horizontally from the point of entry, such as a crack in the wall.
The areas affected become discoloured, with water marks visible. Unlike rising damp, it’s not limited to the lower sections of walls, so you might find that penetrating damp spreads higher and faster than rising damp. It’s important to employ penetrating damp solutions before major damage takes place!
Condensation Damp– This very common type of damp problem happens when warm, moist air collides with a cold surface and releases moisture, forming the tiny water droplets you often see on windows. Too much condensation without proper ventilation will cause a musty odour and encourage the growth of mould and mildew, which presents a dangerous health risk to residents.
If you are concerned about high levels of condensation in your home, we can send out our condensation specialist to ascertain the causes and help you find solutions. Call us at Damp Proofing Ltd on 020 7593 8030 during office hours or fill in the online form, we are here to help you with all of your damp-related problems!