Winter is here!

With it, the combination of cooler temps outside and warmer temps inside unfortunately brings an increase in damp issues around the home.

While it’s typically areas with low ventilation that are most prone to dampness build up, all damp issues are different and it can often take some time to identify that you have a problem. To avoid further damage as well as any ongoing health issues for your family, once discovered you will want to have the issue fixed ASAP by a professional. 

So how do you identify a possible damp problem in your home? Here are some common clues to look out for.

Signs that you have a rising damp issue:

• Black Mould. A clear sign that moisture is present. Typically near or on the skirting and particularly if it is localised and not present in other areas of the home.  
• Smell. Often before you necessarily see visual signs of a damp issue, you will smell it. A musky, strong smell may be detected close to the ground.
• Tide + Stain Marking. Another more obvious sign. Inspect your internal walls in the area above the skirting for tide marks or damp patches or staining. These will display in a yellow to brown colour and are caused by evaporation and salts rising up the wall from the ground.
• Peeling Wallpaper. Harder to pinpoint due to other aging or external factors also affecting wallpaper bondage. However dampness can cause wallpaper to come away from the wall, usually peeling upwards from the skirting board and worth an investigation if discovered.
• Decayed Timber or Skirting. As damp rises from the ground, a rotting of the timbers along the bottom of the wall is a telltale sign of dampness present. Skirting or flooring that is cracked, or which easily crumbles could be caused by moisture, as well as peeling paint.
• Plaster Blisters. Blister patches on plastered walls are another sign of rising damp. This is typically caused by salts being washed out of the bricks and bleeding into the plaster.

If unable to identify easily but you still suspect you have an issue, call a professional to investigate further for you. Fairley Constructions can assist in resolving damp issues as they come up and are happy to talk over any concerns you have.

Contact us via our enquiry form here.