Go to navigation
Damp and condensation
One of the most frequent problems encountered in the home is
damp. There are three major causes of damp, which each require a
different remedy. Whatever the cause, damp can be bad for health
and therefore it is important that you get advice if you think you
are affected.
Rising damp
Rising damp normally occurs in properties which either have not
been built with a damp proof course (DPC) or where the DPC has
failed. The most obvious signs of rising damp are a brown
"tidemark" on the wall and the plaster below feeling cold or damp
to the touch. Rising damp can affect any wall in contact with the
ground and therefore can affect internal as well as external walls.
It does not normally rise above about a metre in height. If you
suspect that your home is affected by rising damp, you should have
the property surveyed by a contractor who is either registered with
the Qualitymark scheme or a member of the British Timber Treatment
and Damp Proofing Association, whose members are usually listed in
Yellow Pages.
Penetrating damp
Penetrating damp can affect almost any location in the home and
is usually the result of a building or plumbing fault allowing
water to enter into the property. A brown stain normally occurs on
the affected surface, which grows in size as more water penetrates.
If the fault is not rectified, plaster will start to perish and in
the case of ceilings, could even collapse. If you think you have a
problem with penetrating damp, you should have the fault repaired
as soon as possible. If you need a contractor, it is advisable to
contact someone registered with a recognised trade body or contact
Qualitymark.
Medway Council's list of Fair Traders
contains contractors who specialise in the treatment of damp.
Condensation
Condensation differs from rising and penetrating damp in that it
is caused by excessive moisture that cannot escape from a building,
rather than damp coming in. The first sign that condensation is a
problem is when black pinpricks of mould appear on walls, ceilings
and even furnishings. There is usually a musty smell and clothes
and shoes in cupboards can become covered in a white or green furry
mould. Factors which contribute to condensation include not opening
windows, drying washing inside or using unvented tumble dryers and
inadequate heating but the biggest cause of condensation is the use
of portable calor gas heaters. If the cause of the condensation is
not rectified, the pin pricks of mould will grow and can eventually
cover whole walls and ceilings and ruin clothes and
decorations.
Download
Housing Services – Guidance for tackling condensation, damp and
mould in your home (pdf 1,185KB).
To use this document and others like it you will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please
use our advice
page.
Add this page to my Quick Links:
Add page
Send this page to a friend:
Send