• home improvement ,
• Tags: Penetrating Damp
• 06 Mar

What Is Penetrating Damp?

Penetrating damp is when water from outside your property somehow gets inside the property through cracks in the wall, poorly fitted doors, flooring, leaking pipes, blocked guttering, wear and tear and poorly fitted windows.

Where Did It Come From?

Unfortunately, the clue is in the name. Water can literally seep through pores in the exterior of your home and cause the nasty smell, mould and watermarks. Sometimes penetrating damp can be caused through wear and tear of an older property that hasn’t been properly maintained, or more unfortunately there are issues with the exterior of your home.

Signs Of Penetrating Damp To Look Out For

• Suspicious mould
• Nasty smells
• Damp patches on the walls, ceilings and flooring
• Drips of water coming through ceiling
• Puddles of water on the floor
• Damaged plasterboard
• Rotten wood on skirting boards and floor boards
• Decay in exposed brick work or timber within the inside of your property

How To Prevent Penetrating Damp

Even though it may not always be your fault, you can put measures in place in order to prevent penetrating damp from inside  your home. Proper ventilation is key in any house hold. Whether that is making sure your windows are fitted properly with so cracks or pours or that your air conditioning system is exposed to any water that may cause a leakage. Most of the time plasters and decorators will be called in to fix the damp – but if you ensure any wall cavities are filled properly then this could prevent penetrating damp. You can take precautions yourself by testing the moisture levels in your home with an electronic moisture meter, checking that all your pipes are clear and to removes leaves from your gutters often. You may also want to check your household appliances are to leaking regularly – such as your washing machine and dishwasher. If you notice any water coming from your loft or your roof then call in damp-proofers immediately to ensure the issue won’t get worse. If you are a first time buyer then make sure your home gets surveyed properly to ensure any cracks in the wall or issues on the exterior get dealt with before you move in – this will help prevent penetrating damp from seeping through the pores.

Can Penetrating Damp Lead To Other Issues?

Yes.

If the damp doesn’t seep all the way through the interior it can lead to other damp related issues like wet rot and dry rot. As well as this, your home could suffer from heat loss, fusty smells, frost damage and water damage.