TYPES OF DAMP PROOFING BRISTOL
With various types of damp affecting homes throughout the United Kingdom, the type of damp proofing for your property will be dependent on the cause. The results of our damp proof survey will always determine the causes of damp along with the next steps necessary to cure the problem. Common issues that require damp proofing include rising damp, penetrating damp and wet rot.
Damp proofing treatments will vary depending on the types of moisture ingress your homes are suffering from. We also provide a comprehensive timber preservation service that treats wood rot and woodworm. Below, you’ll find more about each of our damp proofing treatments and how we can help manage your damp problems.
RISING DAMP
We often receive enquiries from people whose homes that have been experiencing rising damp. Upon further inspection, the ‘rising damp’ is often damp walls that have been exposed to moisture ingress. Rising damp is a less common cause of damp within the home as it’s more prominent in older buildings that have had little or no damp proofing installed. If you think that your property is poorly damp proofed or requires comprehensive damp proofing, get in touch with one of our damp specialists today.
Your home can become affected by rising damp if there are:
- High ground water levels
- Weak, or low quality pore structure of wall materials
- Low evaporation rates from the wall’s surface
Rising damp is caused by porous building materials within your walls structure absorbing ground water. Rising damp can cause severe damage if left untreated, and has been seen to rise in walls to heights of 1.5m.
WET ROT
As the more common form of wood rot, wet rot can occur in areas where timber has had prolonged and ongoing exposure to damp and moisture. Whilst wet rot and dry rot outbreaks occur in similar ways, wet rot is less destructive than dry rot. This doesn’t mean that wet rot should be ignored, and prolonged exposure can cause extensive and severe structural damage to your home.
Below are some of the main causes of wet rot:
- Unprotected timber that has direct contact with a source of moisture
- Plumbing leaks from pipes or appliances
- Little or no sub-floor ventilation below suspended flooring
There are various types of wet rot that produces different types of fungi – each with their own unique features. Two of the most common species of wet rot include Coniophora Puteana and Poria Vaillantii. Wet rot fungi are known to produce ‘strands’ that is usually confined to the area of dampness.Wet rot will require specialist timber treatments to ensure successful eradication, removal and replacement of affected timber. All treatments are to be carried out in accordance with the PCA Code of Practice for Remedial Timber Treatment by an experienced expert. If you are worried about a potential wet rot outbreak or have had a bad experience with a previous company, get in touch today for more information, advice or to book a comprehensive damp proofing survey.
CONDENSATION CONTROL
If you’ve been experiencing small damp patches and mould around your home, it could be caused by internal ventilation and poor ‘condensation control’. Not all sources of moisture will require comprehensive damp proofing, and there are things you can do to reduce the levels of moisture in your home. It’s quite common for homes in the UK to experience condensation, especially during the winter months. Condensation can even present itself in the best built and damp proofed homes, with high levels of unmanaged condensation caused mould patches and damp marks on walls.
Managing condensation levels in your home does not always require the immediate attention of an expert as there are plenty of beneficial ways in which you can reduce condensation in your home. Did you know, the average household in the UK generates anywhere between 10 and 20 litres of moisture every day? This moisture is caused by cooking, bathing and even breathing and by opening a window or frequently using your central heating can help combat condensation build up. If you feel as if your problem with condensation is getting progressively worse, contact a member of our damp proofing team today to arrange a damp survey.
