Damp Proofing Kidderminster Worcestershire (DY10): Having problems with damp in your property in Kidderminster should cause you a fair bit of concern, since along with the reality that damp looks undesirable, it often also has structural and health repercussions too. Under those clumps of flaking paintwork, ugly damp patches and areas of peeling wallpaper, far more serious problems might be hiding, and if they aren't resolved quickly, could be fairly expensive to repair. If you think that you might have such damp problems you should get in touch with a certified Kidderminster damp proofing specialist to assess your property, and come up with the best damp proofing solution for your home or business.
If you have problems with dampness in your house in Kidderminster, there are three possible causes:
• Penetrating Damp
• Condensation
• Rising Damp
In the following paragraphs, we'll look at what causes such damp problems, and ways that you can go about resolving them, and preventing them from occurring in the first place.
PENETRATING DAMP
Penetrating damp in the home can be the result of various external factors for instance: cracks in brickwork, blocked cavities, damaged gutters or drainpipes and broken or loose roof tiles. In the interior of your home it can be due to burst or dripping pipes, cracked shower trays and overflowing sinks or baths. If left uncontrolled, damp, dark patches on walls, blistering or broken plaster and flaking paintwork, will be the noticeable signs of water soaking into the woodwork and walls.
If you have a leaky roof and it has been left untreated for a while, it can cause wet rot to develop in your roof timbers. Wet rot cannot spread into your brickwork, but it can mean that in the worst outcome your roof timbers become structurally dangerous, necessitating a new roof. A musty smell of rotting wood, the presence of black fungus, and a "spongy" feel to the timbers on your roof, are all signs that wet rot is already a problem.
The measures for prevention can be quite basic, for instance repointing dodgy brickwork, inspecting water pipes for leaks and cleaning and checking your roof & gutters for leaks. A knowledgeable damp proofer in Kidderminster will check these areas in order to help prevent any further complications, as an integral part of fixing your dampness issues.
CONDENSATION
A lot of households in Kidderminster have problems with condensation, and this is one of the most common factors that cause damp. When colder surfaces make contact with humid, warm air, tiny water droplets form on those cold surfaces. In areas with high humidity, as in: boiler rooms, bathrooms and kitchens, condensation arises due to poor ventilation.
To prevent condensation problems, basic strategies include making certain that there's adequate ventilation in the worst affected areas, and wiping away any droplets as soon as they form. Redirecting moist air outside of your home in Kidderminster, by upgrading or fitting air bricks, extractor fans and cooker hoods, will help you to resolve this annoying problem.
In some cases moist air can be sucked in from the outside, simply making the situation worse. And the best way to ascertain the main factors that play a role in the situation, is to get a detailed damp proofing survey carried out by a reputable Kidderminster company. The most effective way to successfully minimise condensation is to regulate airflow correctly, and your local Kidderminster damp proofing technician will offer advice and guidance on how this can best be achieved.
RISING DAMP
Homes constructed since 1875 in the United Kingdom have been required to have a damp proof course to be installed as standard. If your property was constructed before this time it's possible that you might not have this installed. If your property was built after this year, but you are still suffering with rising damp, it could be that the damp proof membrane or course has been impaired.
Although tricky to identify, white powdery deposits forming on walls or being found on floor surfaces, tide marks on walls and crumbling or rotten skirting boards, are all giveaway indications of rising damp. While the existence of one or more of these isn't conclusive, they're all indications of rising damp problems.
Dealing with rising damp problems can be as simple as checking your home's external walls to see if you can see a damp proof course. For satisfactory protection it ought to be 150mm (approximately 6 inches) above ground level. You could dig the surrounding earth away to create this gap if it's currently not enough, or you can put in a damp course higher up if the first option isn't feasible.
You could have more serious issues if you discover that your damp proof membrane (DPM) is okay, and it may be that the damp is rising up from the ground, up through your flooring, and into your property's walls, which is going to be even more of a concern.
Kidderminster damp proofing specialists will quickly be able to determine the cause of your rising damp issues, and using a variety of procedures will quickly eliminate the problem. Older houses which either have no DPM, or have a compromised one which is damaged over a substantial area, can have a damp proofing cream (such as Dryzone or Permaguard) injected into the exterior walls. Holes will be drilled at intervals along the brickwork, and a special nozzle is used to inject the cream, which then diffuses before curing to create an effective water-repellent barrier.
If the damp proof cream isn't sufficient, or the damage is too extensive to your DPM, a new damp proof course may need to be put in. Though this is obviously a fairly extreme course of action, it might be the only way to solve your damp problems effectively.
Painting with a bitumen based, waterproof latex emulsion, is yet another potential option for minimal areas of damp course damage. This will be applied beneath your floor coverings, so wooden flooring, carpeting and tiles must be lifted prior to work being done. This is especially effective in cellars as part of the tanking process to create a watertight room. Your Kidderminster damp proofing expert may suggest the laying of building paper (a specialist foil backed membrane) before the bitumen paint has completely dried, added protection in those problem areas.
Tanking: In below ground areas for instance cellars, "tanking" is a process where exposed surfaces are covered in a watertight coating. All wall covering and plaster must be removed and the pertinent surfaces correctly prepared before any work begins, as this coating has to be applied at the base level of walls and floors. As soon as this paint has been applied, it must be permitted to dry out completely before replastering and decorating over the top of it. You should invariably get more than one expert's opinion about whether this is really the only treatment for your rising damp problems, as this is a really disruptive job as it must be applied to an entire basement level or ground floor of a building.
SOLVING DAMP WITH DEHUMIDIFIERS
To help with condensation issues, you can try using dehumidifiers, which for lowering the moisture content of the air, are really effective. The drawback with dehumidifiers in attempting to reduce dampness is that they primarily alleviate the cause of the damp, not cure it. A reliable damp proofing specialist in Kidderminster will be able to give you advice on possible solutions if you're experiencing mould or damp in any part of your property.
FINDING A DEPENDABLE DAMP PROOF COMPANY IN KIDDERMINSTER
As with pretty much any home improvement project, the most trustworthy recommendations for a local specialist can be gleaned from friends and relatives. Always get at least 3 or 4 different estimates from various companies, and if you have any doubts you can ask to see evidence of professional membership certificates and qualifications, before signing up to any damp proofing services.
Professional Kidderminster damp proofing specialists should be registered members of either the Damp Proofing Association or the Property Care Association (PCA), or have professional qualifications from the Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments or the Certificated Surveyor of Timber and Dampness (CSTDB).
Membership of the DPA or PCA guarantees your preferred damp proofing specialist is suitably qualified and has the appropriate experience to provide a high quality damp proofing service. It also offers a guarantee over any remedial work accomplished by one of their membership.
Problems With Black Mould in Kidderminster
If you happen to be experiencing symptoms of black mould in your Kidderminster property, you could have a problem with Stachybotrys chartarum. This is a highly toxic fungus that produces a slime head called conidia. It is known as a primary cause of indoor air pollution and is considered a health hazard. If you see signs of this kind of mould in your house in Kidderminster, you need to contact a competent damp proofing company straight away, to get the best treatment.
Fortunately, there are a number of techniques for removing black mould. The first strategy uses white vinegar, which is an environmentally-friendly solution. You can apply the vinegar neat to large areas, or mix it fifty, fifty with water for small patches. Once applied, the solution should sit on the mould for at least one hour before wiping off.
Another procedure involves increasing airflow within your home. It is believed that black mould is more likely to grow in parts of the house that lack sufficient ventilation. Even though this won't completely eliminate the risk, it's still crucial to ensure that the air is flowing out of the house as much as possible. Open up the windows so that air can flow out and in.
Another solution is the use of a water and baking soda paste to treat the black mould. This has a pH of 2.5, making it an effective antibacterial solution. Hydrogen peroxide is another solution that can be beneficial for removing black mould. It's a natural, three-in-one solution that is safe to use, especially on surfaces that are porous.
Positive Input Ventilation
Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) may be an ideal solution for reducing problems with damp in your house in Kidderminster. PIV can aid in reducing humidity levels, which can alleviate damp and mould in your dwelling or condensation around your windows. A constant supply of fresh air accomplishes this. Asthma and allergy sufferers can benefit from improved daily life as a result of constantly refreshing and replacing the air inside your house, which leads to improved air quality, reduced pollutants and odours, and decreased dust mite allergens. Considerations for PIV systems include the requirement for a fairly airtight house and optimal performance when installed in an attic. Similar to water, air will take the path of least resistance, so gaps and spaces in doors or windows can lead to fresh air escaping and contaminated air entering.
Kidderminster Damp Proofing Tasks
There is a range of work that can be conducted by your local Kidderminster damp proof specialist including damp proofing cream treatments, vapour barriers, commercial damp proofing Kidderminster, timber treatments, basement tanking, timber preservation, concrete repairs in Kidderminster, damp proofing concrete floors, damp proofing quotes, commercial tanking, structural waterproofing, brick damp proofing, property preservation, damp proof tanking Kidderminster, wet rot treatment, damp control Kidderminster, dry rot treatment in Kidderminster, damp proof membranes, leak detection, landlord damp proofing services, basement water-proofing, japanese knotweed control, damp proof coursing, efflorescence treatments, damp proof paint applications, mould treatment in Kidderminster, floor damp proofing in Kidderminster, replacement of faulty flashingsDPC, penetrating damp treatment, concrete damp proofing Kidderminster, plaster replacement Kidderminster, damp proofing a garage, garage floor damp proofing, damp treatments, retaining wall damp proofing Kidderminster, and more. These are just a small portion of the activities that are carried out by those specialising in damp proofing. Kidderminster companies will let you know about their whole range of services.
Damp Proofing Near Kidderminster
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