Damp Proofing Crewe

Damp Proofing Crewe Cheshire (CW1): You should be seriously worried if you have problems with damp in your home in Crewe, because along with looking unattractive, damp can have a negative impact on your health and affect the structural integrity of your property. Costing 1000s to repair if not treated promptly, more extreme issues can easily be concealed beneath flaking paint, patches of damp and peeling wallpaper. The best alternative if you have such issues with your dwelling in Crewe, is to get hold of an established damp proofing specialist, and ask them to have a look.

In Crewe properties, there are basically three primary problem areas where damp can have a negative impact on your house:

PENETRATING DAMP

Some of the external factors that may cause penetrating damp in a structure include: damaged downspouts or gutters, loose or broken roof tiles, unsound brickwork and cavity wall issues. Inside a structure, overflowing basins or bathtubs, damaged shower trays and burst or leaking pipework, can contribute to penetrating damp. If water continues to seep into the walls and woodwork, the noticeable signs in time are going to be peeling or bubbling paintwork, damp, dark patches on walls and broken or blistering plaster.

If you have a leaky roof and it's been neglected for an extended period of time, it can cause wet rot to develop in the timbers of your roof. Although brickwork is not impacted by wet rot, the timbers of your roof can experience severe consequences, and the whole roof may need to be replaced if it becomes structurally unsound. If a black fungus starts to appear on any woodwork and the roof timbers feel "spongy" to touch, you might have the beginnings of wet rot.

To help prevent this, there are a few basic maintenance measures you can take: cleaning your guttering & roof and checking for leaks, examining pipework for leaks and repointing dodgy brickwork. If you employ the services of a reliable Crewe damp proofing firm, they will check all these aspects as part of your complete damp proofing service.

CONDENSATION

There are numerous factors that cause damp, but condensation is one of the most common and easiest to spot. Small droplets of water form on colder surfaces when moist, warm air comes into contact with them. If there isn't sufficient ventilation in areas of high humidity, such as bathrooms, boiler rooms and kitchens, condensation can often be a consequence.

To reduce the impact of this problem there are two simple steps that you can take. You can mop up any water droplets as soon as they appear, and you can make sure that there's enough ventilation in areas that most suffer from condensation. You can reduce the level of damp air that is present in your building by installing or updating cooker hoods, extractors and air bricks.

The best way to identify the key factors that give rise to the problem, is to have an in-depth damp proofing survey done by a trustworthy Crewe specialist. Sometimes damp air is sucked in from outside, simply making things worse. Airflow and circulation needs to be regulated properly to effectively minimise condensation, and a certified damp proofing technician will give advice and offer solutions on this topic.

RISING DAMP

A damp proof course or membrane has been compulsory on houses constructed in the United Kingdom since 1875. It is possible that you might not have one fitted if your property or home in Crewe was built in the years before this. If you're suffering with rising damp in a house constructed after this date it may be that your DPM has been damaged in some way.

Rising damp can be tricky to distinguish, but some areas to keep an eye out for are; a white powdery deposit forming on walls or being discovered on floor surfaces, rotten or crumbling skirtings and "tide marks" on walls. While the existence of these isn't conclusive, they are all clear indications of rising damp issues.

Dealing with rising damp issues can be as straightforward as checking your exterior walls and seeing if you can spot a DPM. To be certain of an adequate measure of protection the damp proof membrane needs to be above ground level by a minimum of 150 millimetres. If this is not the situation you can dig the ground away to create this gap, or if this is not possible, you can put in a higher damp proof membrane.

If your damp proof course is correct and the gap from the ground isn't the root cause of the problem, dampness could be coming up through your floors and into your walls, which might be a more problematic issue.

Crewe damp proofing specialists will swiftly be able to establish the root cause of your rising damp, and using a variety of methods will soon deal with the problem. Older houses which either don't have a damp proof course, or have a compromised one that is damaged over a considerable area, can have a damp proofing cream (such as Dryzone) injected into the external walls. This special cream is injected with a nozzle into holes drilled evenly along the mortar joint, and before the cream sets it diffuses into the adjoining brickwork creating a barrier that is repellent to water.

In instances where damp proofing injection cream is not a satisfactory treatment, or when your membrane is too extensively damaged, putting in a complete new damp proof course could be neccessary. Whilst this sort of repair work is a fairly extreme way to solve rising damp problems, it might be the only effective solution at the end of the day.

For less severe areas of damp course damage, yet another possible option would be to coat with a waterproof (bitumen based) latex emulsion. Because this is applied beneath your current floor coverings, carpeting, tiles and wooden flooring will need to be lifted and moved before this procedure can commence. In cellar areas this is an especially effective solution, and will form part of the "tanking" procedure that is used to create watertight spaces. For added protection in such trouble spots, your Crewe damp proofing expert may advise the use of building paper (a foil backed specialist membrane) before the bitumen paint has completely dried.

Tanking: The process of coating exposed surfaces in a waterproof paint in a cellar or below ground area is known as tanking. This should be applied on the base surface of walls and floors, so any wall coverings and plaster must be removed and the pertinent surfaces prepared properly before the commencement of any work. As soon as the paint has been applied and dried, it is then possible to replaster and decorate on top of it. Since it needs to be applied to a whole basement level or ground floor of a building, this is an extremely disruptive job. Therefore, it is preferable to contact more than one damp proofing specialist to guarantee that this really is the only remedy.

DEHUMIDIFIERS AS A SOLUTION TO DAMP PROBLEMS

To help with condensation issues, you can try using dehumidifiers, which for removing moisture from the air, are pretty effectual. The fact that they just mask the cause of the damp and not cure it, is the disadvantage with dehumidifiers. To get the most reliable advice if you're experiencing damp or mould in any part of your property, you should call on a certified damp proofing specialist in Crewe.

FINDING A REPUTABLE DAMP PROOF EXPERT IN CREWE

Neighbours and friends should always be the first port of call when you are trying to get recommendations and testimonials for local professionals. Always acquire at least 2 or 3 different estimates from a variety of companies, and if you're in any doubt you can ask to look at professional membership certificates and qualifications, before signing up for any damp proof services.

Look for membership of and qualifications from bodies such as the Property Care Association (PCA) or the Damp Proofing Association, or contractors holding the Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments or the CSTDB (Certificated Surveyor of Timber and Dampness) qualifications.

If your chosen Crewe damp proofing providers are members of the PCA or DPA you can be sure they will be suitably qualified and have acquired the required working experience to provide you with a high quality service for your damp proofing problems. Such professional memberships also means there are guarantees for any work accomplished.

Black Mould

If you happen to be experiencing symptoms of black mould, you might have a problem with Stachybotrys chartarum. This is an extremely toxic fungus that produces a slime head called conidia. It is known as a primary cause of indoor air pollution and is considered to be a health hazard. If you notice any signs of this sort of mould in your dwelling in Crewe, you need to get in touch with a professional damp proofing specialist right away, to get the best treatment.

The first step in eliminating mould is to clean the affected area with soapy water. You should also use a disinfectant such as bleach, which should kill any mould spores. Hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar are also effective disinfectants. However, you must be careful when using bleach, as it could irritate or even burn your eyes. Also, make sure there's adequate ventilation in the space where you're working, to avoid inhaling the fumes.

Another approach is the use of a baking soda and water paste to treat the mould. This solution has a pH of 2.5, making it an effective antibacterial. Hydrogen peroxide is another treatment that can be useful for getting rid of black mould. It is a natural, 3 in 1 solution which is safe to use, particularly on porous surfaces.

Woodworm Treatments

Problems with woodworm are quite common in Crewe, particularly in properties that are older where the larvae of certain species of beetles feed on the wood, causing major damage over the years. Woodworm treatment is necessary to prevent any serious harm to the building.

The initial step in woodworm treatment is to establish the type of beetle that is causing the problem, as different types require different treatments. A professional woodworm specialist can carry out a thorough evaluation to assess the level of the infestation and propose the best course of action.

When it comes to treating woodworm, insecticides are one the most effective solutions, and these can be applied in gel or liquid form. These treatments seep into the timber and eliminate the woodworm larvae. This method is most effective for small infestations, and a specialist will determine whether this is the most effective option. For infestations that are more severe, fumigation may be necessary. This involves sealing the affected area and discharging a gas into the space to kill off the larvae. Fumigation is a more invasive treatment, however it's usually the most suitable option for larger infestations.

To prevent woodworm infestations, it's vital to keep the environment unfavourable for the growth of the larvae. This can be achieved through adequate ventilation, regulating humidity levels. Additionally, it's important to avoid using untreated wood, as this is more susceptible to woodworm infestations. Using wood that has been treated with a woodworm repellent can help in preventing future infestations.

Regularly inspecting the premises is an effective way to spot infestations of woodworm early on, enabling swift action to be taken to minimise damage. In addition, it's imperative that you tackle any moisture damage, since wet wood attracts woodworm. To prevent woodworm infestations in wooden furniture, it is crucial to maintain their cleanliness and dryness.

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Damp proofing surveys - article 202.

More Crewe Tradespeople: Naturally, whenever you happen to be doing home renovations in Crewe, Cheshire, you will probably be in need of all kinds of different tradespeople and apart from a damp proofer in Crewe, Cheshire, you could also need a building contractor in Crewe, loft conversion in Crewe, a carpenter in Crewe, scaffolding in Crewe, solar panel installation in Crewe, a tiler in Crewe, stone & brick cleaning in Crewe, bricklayers in Crewe, floor replacement in Crewe, pebble dashing in Crewe, SKIP HIRE in Crewe, rendering in Crewe, painters & decorators in Crewe, a plumber in Crewe, an odd job man in Crewe, floor screeding in Crewe, waste removal in Crewe, and other different Crewe tradesmen.

Crewe Damp Proofing Tasks

There are a wide range of tasks that can be completed by your local Crewe damp proof specialist including positive input ventilation, commercial tanking, cementitious tanking, flood defence, replacement of defective flashingsdamp proof course Crewe, penetrating damp treatment, brick damp proofing, rendering repairs, condensation control, damp treatments, black mould treatment Crewe, foundation damp proofing, mould treatments, property preservation Crewe, damp proof coursing, damp proofing concrete floors in Crewe, defective DPC replacement, vapour barrier installations Crewe, rising damp advice, damp course installations in Crewe, damp proofing in kitchens, plaster replacement, cavity wall construction, damp control, rising damp prevention in Crewe, dry rot treatments, floor damp proofing Crewe, damp proof paint application, leak detection, dampproofing surveys in Crewe, concrete damp proofing Crewe, concrete repair, structural waterproofing, cheap damp proofing Crewe, garage floor damp proofing Crewe, and more. Listed are just a small portion of the activities that are carried out by people specialising in damp proofing. Crewe specialists will tell you about their full range of services.

Damp Proofing Near Crewe

Also find: Copenhall Moss damp proofing, Barthomley damp proofing, Woolstanwood damp proofing, Beambridge damp proofing, Hough damp proofing, Hurleston damp proofing, Bradfield Green damp proofing, Leighton damp proofing, Rease Heath damp proofing, Barbridge damp proofing, Oakhanger damp proofing, Wells Green damp proofing, Sydney damp proofing, Aston Juxta Mondrum damp proofing, Burland damp proofing, Wardle damp proofing services and more. All these areas are covered by companies who do damp proofing. Crewe homeowners can get damp proofing quotations by clicking here.

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