DAMP PROOFING BURY-ST-EDMUNDS

HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY DAMPNESS IN HOUSES?

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Damp in houses across Bury St Edmunds, causes serious health issues and it is also very harmful to the person who already has a chronic disease. Damp in the walls or ceiling of the home accumulate mold.

Damp mostly appears in poor ventilated buildings and homes. Mould spread musky smell and infections through spores which disperse in the atmosphere of home and inhale by residents while breathing. Mold spores are microscopic tiny substances that are produced in order to reproduce and grow.

These infectious spores cause inflammation in the pulmonary tract which ultimately leads to sore throat runny nose and in extreme conditions it gets worse in the form of asthma.

WHO share data which show over 300 million children asthma is due to exposure to dampness at home.The effect of mold fungal infection depends on the immune system of a person. It also depends on the type, mycotoxins me, and mold of mold exposure. There are four major effects of damp houses.

Fungal spores of mold – Some molds produce mycosis bacterial infection that travels in the form of spores and when someone inhales it, it causes severe respiratory infections,asthma, and rarely pneumonitis.

Allergic reactions – Spores are generally allergens, which means they cause numerous allergic reactions. When someone touches the mold the spores transmit over the skin and cause a rash or severe allergic reaction. Damp homes also enhance the eczema disease effect.

Neurological problems – Some mold produces mycotoxins that cause serious health issues. Mycotoxins affect the nervous system and cause severe damage to nerves which ultimately lead to death. A mycotoxin is also known to harm humans.

High-risk person – People who already have some chronic disease, infants, and old age are at high risk. Long time exposure is also dangerous for younger people. Homes are places where everyone wants to stay and relax but if there is dampness it makes the home uncomfortable and dangerous to live in.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY DAMP TO PROPERTIES

Damp in Bury St Edmunds is one of the most common problems affecting properties, especially to properties where the damp-proofing wasn’t done. The damage to properties from small mold patches or a little extra moisture in the home might not seem like a big problem but over a period of time damp is a problem that can be developed behind the scenes and lead to other serious damage to properties such as wet damp, dry rot, and woodworm infestation among others.

CAUSES OF DAMP

Damp can get a foothold in your properties so identifying potential problems and having information is important, before they weaken the structure of your properties.

Condensation is the most common form of damp in any property and is often caused by the design or material used while construction. Such as having double-glazed windows and doors to reduce the energy efficiency of residential properties, but also compounding the problem by reducing ventilation inside the properties.

Condensation caused by internal warm temperatures causes the cold wall surfaces to condense leading to mist windows and wet walls.

CONDITIONS CAUSED BY DAMP

Conditions caused by damp are universal for all properties in all cases. Damp conditions can cause serious damage to the structure of the properties that have wood as an integral part of its structure.

WET ROT is the most common damage caused to the properties and it is the more serious of the two main types of wood rot damages that affect the properties of wet and dry rot. However wet rot causes the most damage as it turns the wood black with fungus combined with darkening of the color leading to a loss in strength and prone to collapse.

DRY ROT is the most dangerous of the damp damages which causes a unique fungus to spread all around the property spreading to every inch of the property without any inhibitions. It even attacks all levels of the properties, even though neighboring properties. Dry rot develops when condensation causes moisture to remain at a constant 20% which in turn leads to quickly attaching all areas. Urgent decisions are needed in case of dry rot to stop further damage to the property.

WOODWORM is an insect infestation caused by damp. Infestations are caused by a number of wood-boring beetles and insects that eat wood present within the structure of the property and a specialist insecticidal solution is needed to treat and limit the damage already caused to the property.

What is damp & What type of damp do you have?

The mold that appeared on the wall surface, window edges, and room ceiling not only gave an unpleasant feeling but the spores of mold also transmitted the musty smell.

The musty smell is often associated with damp properties. It is not so difficult to figure out what type of damp issues your home faces. Each type of damp has its specific signs and signals. You can easily figure out the type of damp but you still need the assistance of a specialist to find the point of leakage that causes damping in the walls or ceilings.

Damp is a condition in which moisture from the air or leakage of water somewhere from the roof diffuses into the surface and causes unpleasant damp. We often have seen dark black spots on the walls and ceiling.

Damp is caused of structural defects and in extreme conditions property destruction.UK weather is cold and rainy throughout the year and plays a major role in the dampness of buildings. In the early Georgian era(1714-1837) people built homes with great ventilation systems to avoid dampness. After that people still understand the importance of ventilation in the Victoria era and make chambers in the wall for ventilation.

But as the population rises, people start constructing buildings and ignore the importance of ventilation.

Nowadays in the UK, seven types of building materials are used to build properties.

  • Block and Brick
  • Timber frame
  • Insulated Concrete
  • Steel Framed Construction
  • Insulated Panels
  • Cob Construction
  • Straw Bale Construction

Generally, there are three causes of dampness at the home. While these are the ultimate causes of damp, there are also some usually causal factors which damp specialists need to address before the problem gets alleviated.

1.Absent of Ventilation system

In our home, we frequently use water in cooking, washing, and bathing. All these chores generate lots of moisture that has to escape from the building otherwise it absorbs in walls, floors, and ceiling and causes dampness. Mostly in windowless basements moisture struck inside the wall and ceiling insulation.

2.Poor quality materials

In the Edwardian era, people built homes and properties with cob and straw bale material, which needs specific damp proofing techniques. In the modern era mostly buildings are constructed with blocks and bricks, timber, and insulated concrete. The main cause for damp in these homes is the use of poor quality material which allows moisture to pass freely through the house. The majority of cases in modern times are caused by inappropriate building material that redundant the moisture.

3.Lack of maintenance

Mostly dampness was caused by the lack of maintenance. People generally ignore small cracks and droplets leaking from broken pipes that appear on their walls and ceiling. We should not ignore these signs and repair these damage before they cause great destruction. Damp proofing specialists find out the root cause of dampness and fix it before any big issue.

When we heard the word damp, the first thing that came to our mind was moist and soggy material.

Types of damp

There are three basic types of damp. These types possess differently and leave an impact on walls. Damp also affects the atmosphere of home and properties by spreading musty smell.

1.Rising damp

Rising damp is significantly different from other damp because it arises from the flooring toward the roof.

2.Penetrating damp

Penetrating damp appears on the wall in the form of spots on walls and ceiling where cracks are present and water penetrates inside of the wall from outside.

3.Condensation Condensation is a process in which water vapors are generated during the daily activity of water consumption at home. Your daily activities at home like cooking, washing, showering and doing laundry increase the humidity level of the atmosphere. This process is called condensation.

Cause of DAMP in properties

Lack of a proper ventilation system in the home and offices is the main cause of damp. A good ventilation system allows the humid air to escape. Cold weather in the UK also plays a significant role in dampness.

To avoid damp at home residents must open their windows for a specific time.The poor quality design of construction and retrofit insulation could cause great problems and exacerbate dampness. Gaps between insulation also allow moisture to store and cause dampness.

Treatments for DAMP

Residents are recommended to reduce water consumption or when they are doing activities, leave the windows open for a short period. Regular ventilation allows moist air to leave the house rather than absorb the wall’s insulation. The UK weather is mostly cold throughout the year so you have to adapt some simple remedies to reduce the level of moisture at home. Like you can add carpets on the floor with thermal lining,water repellent paint walls, and keep the house warm. You should take measures while designing the property and make a proper structure.

Proper insulation is the most compulsive thing to reduce cold spots in walls to avoid damp.

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