What Are The Most Common Causes of Penetrating Damp?

 


Both old and new homes are at risk of penetrating damp – learn the most common causes and how to treat this frustrating property issue.

As the UK enters another period of exceptionally heavy downpour and the Met Office issues flood warnings in some parts of the country, unfortunately some homeowners will be eyeing the weather with more trepidation than others. Those who own properties with penetrating damp issues should be particularly worried about how the excess water seeping in from outside will exacerbate the damp conditions inside their home. If you have a problem with penetrating damp, read on to find out the most typical causes of this unpleasant issue.

What Is Penetrating Damp?

Penetrating damp occurs when water, usually rainwater, is allowed to penetrate from the outside of your property and seep through into your interior. This can happen at any level of your home, unlike rising damp which only occurs on the ground floor. A damp specialist Essex team explains that you’ll usually become aware of penetrating damp when you see mould or damp patches of water present on your walls or ceiling. If you leave these patches without treatment, they will spread and can cause more extensive issues such as structural damage to the timberwork of your home.

Where Does Penetrating Damp Come From?

Penetrating damp is often identified or made worse after heavy periods of downpour, which is a common problem particularly during the winter season in the UK. However, heavy snowfall can also have a similar result if it packs and freezes on the outer walls or roof of your property and then melts.

The water is usually able to seep into the property from areas such as:

Broken or slipped roof tiles
Broken or leaking gutters
Defective plumbing
Cracks in the brickwork
Burst pipes

With this information in mind, if you are a homeowner who hasn’t experienced penetrating damp before, if you do have any repair work required to the exterior of your home, it’s essential that you get it fixed immediately so as to avoid the damage that can be caused by damp entering your home.

However, if you suspect that you already have an issue with penetrating damp, it’s not too late to take action so long as you seek treatment with a specialist damp proofing firm. The first step is for a professional to survey your property in full to assess how advanced the damp condition may be, and to advise on your treatment options. They will advise on repair work and any preventative maintenance that can be carried out to avoid this happening again in the future. In some cases, once the moisture has dried out, this may be enough to stop the damp from progressing. But in more advanced cases where secondary problems such as rot or woodworm have set in, then further treatment may be required. Each property will be assessed on a case by case basis by carrying out a damp proofing survey.

Don’t let damp put a dampener on your mood! If you believe that penetrating damp is a problem in your home, or could be during the winter season, it’s time to take action.

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