Damp proofing, wet rot, woodworm and property refurbishment services in Dorset and Hampshire
Damp can affect homes of any age and, if left untreated, cause costly damage. In this guide, we'll explain the most common causes of damp - how to spot them, how serious they are, and what you can do to fix them.
Blocked, badly fitted and damaged gutters are a very common cause of damp; when your gutters are blocked, water is not effectively channelled away will instead spill over the eaves and run down your walls. Over time, this can lead to penetrating damp as your wall becomes saturated, and you may start to spot signs of this on the interior walls of your house as it soaks through.
Most people’s homes have quite an extensive plumbing system – from kitchens to bathrooms, there’s a lot of room for something to go wrong. Leaky pipes are another common cause of damp. A good way to tell the difference between a damp problem caused by plumbing and a damp problem caused by structural problems, cracks or guttering is to observe whether or not the damp gets worse during heavy rain. If your damp problem remains consistent then it’s likely to be plumbing related, whilst if it gets worse during rain, it’s likely to be to do with an external issue.
Condensation is perhaps the most common cause of damp there is, especially during winter when people are more likely to keep their windows closed to stay cosy. Condensation occurs due to a lack of ventilation, which allows moisture to condense on internal walls, with the effects most commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms where there is a lot of air moisture. If you notice water droplets on the inside of your windows, it’s a good sign that you don’t have enough ventilation in your home and so are at risk of damp.
Rising damp is usually easier to identify because it is only ever found on the ground floor and moves from the bottom of your wall upwards to a potential height of around a metre. Rising damp is caused by ground water moving through and up your external wall, especially when the wall is below ground level. Rising damp is usually prevented by a damp proof course or membrane, and if you are experiencing rising damp, then it's likely that you either don't have one or yours is ineffective and needs replacing.
At Croft Preservation, we help homeowners across Dorset tackle the root causes of damp - whether it's rising damp in Bournemouth or condensation in a Poole flat.
Our expert team at Croft Preservation can provide a full damp survey and long-lasting treatment to protect your property. Contact us on 01202 737739.
When it comes to protecting your home from the damaging effects of damp, air bricks play a vital role. Yet, homeowners and landlords alike are often left wondering: can air bricks cause damp? It's a fair question, especially if you’ve spotted signs of moisture near a wall where an air brick is installed.
With 40 years of experience, we are the experts at woodworm treatment. In this blog, we discuss why woodworm is so common across the UK and how to spot it.
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