Damp in Old Properties
In any home damp causes problems. Damp walls are said to increase heat loss by up to 40% according to Roger Hunt in an article for Green Spec. This is why it is vitally important to spot the signs of damp in any home and seek a solution as soon as possible.
It is inevitable to find damp in older properties at some stage. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and this is just the same with building materials. Over time gaps appear where mortar used to be allowing moisture to penetrate or rise through walls leaving visible dampness.
In cases with a recently built property, a more standard measure of damp proofing can be taken to protect the structure and stop moisture from entering. In older properties, this is not the case and a different course of action must be taken.
How is Damp Proofing an Old Property Different?
The official definition of an old property is built pre-1919, but this can fluctuate in some cases around this era. Realistically, an older property is one which is made using breathable materials and as such needs to be allowed to breathe. We will explain why this important in a second.
In older homes and commercial properties, it is often hard to discover the true cause of damp in a wall. This is where the Toucan Property Maintenance team become experts above other companies in the area. Wayne is a specialist at finding the root cause of problems and providing the best solution to fix the problem.
Often this can be crumbled walls or cracked roof tiles which allow water to enter the structure. Finding the initial cause of the problem is essential before completing any cosmetic work to the rooms affected.
Making older properties damp resistant takes a different approach to younger dwellings. With new properties, a damp proof course (DPC) can be applied to the exterior walls to act as a sealant against moisture and stop the penetration or rising of the damp.
With older properties, the masonry walls must be allowed to breathe and access air. These buildings were designed to allow a certain level of water to be absorbed and then evaporated by the air which flows through them. Adding a DPC to the exterior of the wall can cause more long-term damage.
Problems Damp Causes in Properties
Regardless of the age of your property, damp can cause a variety of problems both for the structure and the people inside. Whether you have rising damp, penetrating damp, or condensation it is likely to cause harm to the integrity of your walls, damage window frames and can even be harmful to your health.
Moulds which collect as the result of excess moisture can have serious implications for personal health if left untreated and can induce problems including eczema and asthma. Damp patches can also damage the structural integrity of a wall and weaken the properties which hold it together. It is also possible for damp to cause harm to furnishings in a room in certain circumstances.
How Toucan Help With Damp Proofing
Toucan Property Maintenance are specialist damp proof contractors in the South Yorkshire area covering Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley and Sheffield.
As a Property Maintenance company, we take a project from a damp proof problem through to a damp proof solution, unlike many specific damp proof companies. We can not only find the cause of your damp problem and make the necessary repairs and alterations, Wayne and the team can also repair the affected areas of your home with plastering, and room finishing services to get your home back to the way it should be. View our recent projects to see the services we offer.