What Are the Four Most Common Damp Types?
You awoke in the morning to discover that a massive imprint of damp has taken up a significant portion of your home wall. This is not the pleasant morning sight you expected to see when you awoke. Now that you’re all awake and assessing the damp, you’re probably wondering what caused it. What kind of damp is it? Four types of damp commonly cover the walls of your home. All of these damp occur most frequently when damp proofing is either not done or not done correctly. Before you contact the nearest damp proofing company in Sydney, let’s first understand the four most common types of damp:
4 Most Common Type Of Damp:
- Rising Damp
- Penetrating Damp
- Defective Damp
- Condensation
Rising Damp:
Rising damp occurs when water on the ground level rises into a house or structure. Having avoided the damp proof course, which is a layer of waterproof material in a building’s near-ground wall. This type of damp rarely rises above 36 inches above ground level. As a result, it usually only affects basements and first-floor rooms. Rising damp frequently leaves a white mark on the wall’s trademark of a “tide mark.” This is due to the salt content of the water. Mould does not usually accompany rising damp because the salt inhibits its growth. If left untreated, it can lead to other problems such as cracked plaster and lifting wallpaper. Yet, to prevent the growth of rising damp, damp proofing is the only possible treatment.
Penetrating Damp:
Water entering a building defect, such as a missing roof tile or pointing, causes penetrating damp. It is only found on exterior walls and ceilings. It will be most visible after rain and will appear as a visible damp patch. As the weather improves, this will dry out. Mould will rarely grow as a result of penetrating damp because water can pick up salt as it passes through the building material. Similar to rising damp, if there is any salt present, the mould will be unable to grow. However, it is important to get damp proofing done.
Defective Damp:
Defective plumbing, whether from a toilet, shower, sink, or pipe, can damage internal walls and ceilings. Damp from faulty plumbing will appear as an obvious damp patch regardless of the weather outside. Although mould may not grow on such type of damp due to the nature of water. But still, the presence of water can lead to the deterioration of building structures and materials. Especially if it is made out of timber. This is why damp proofing on all types of a residential and commercial structures is a must.
Condensation is the most common cause of mould. When humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, it condenses as droplets. Imagine the amount of water that sits on the surface of your windows on cold mornings when your heating is turned on. Condensation is most commonly found on or around windows. Especially in the winter, but it also grows in the corners of rooms and on north-facing walls regularly. It’s even found behind large objects like beds and wardrobes. In places where there isn’t much ventilation, such as against an external wall. Here, in this case, more than damp proofing, you’d need proper ventilation to prevent the accumulation of water.
These are some of the most common types of damp that are commonly found in residential structures. By understanding the condition that can lead to what kind you damp, you can better understand whether you’d need immediate help with damp proofing service or not. If you understand the difference between damps and if it poses a risk of mould formation, you can take measures accordingly.
