Do you know the difference between types of damp in your home?

What are the different types of damp?

There are many reasons that damp problems can appear in your property, here are some of the most common types of damp to look out for:

• Condensation
• Rising Damp
• Penetrating Damp

How do I identify these types of damp?

Condensation

Condensation is the most common cause of damp in homes throughout the UK, especially during the winter months. Condensation is the result of high moisture levels in the air and poor ventilation, which makes it is most commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens. Evidence of condensation includes:

• Water droplets or fogging on the inside of window panes
• Mould growth on walls or ceiling
• Peeling paint or plaster
• Musty smell

Rising damp

Rising damp is one of the easier types of damp to diagnose once you know what to look for and is only ever found on the ground or lower level of your property. Signs of rising damp include:

• Tide marks up to 1.5 metres from the skirting boards
• Paint or plaster peeling near skirting boards
• Damaged or rotting skirting boards
• Evidence of salt deposits on wall

Penetrating damp

Penetrating damp can occur at any level of your property and is the result of water penetrating your external wall and tracking through to the internal one. Penetrating damp is therefore more common in older properties, though can be a problem for any home. Signs of penetrating damp include:

External:

• Localised watermarks, for example, around overflowing gutters
• Algae or moss growth on your external wall
• Damaged brickwork

Internal:

• Visible damp patches on walls or ceiling
• Damp that gets worse when it rains
• Damage to paint or plaster
• Mould growth

Do you need further help diagnosing the type of damp problem affecting your home, or need help combatting it? Our expert team can diagnose the problem in a professional inspection of your home in Dorset or Hampshire and put in place an effective solution. Contact us on 01202 737739 to find out how we can help!