BEAT THE DAMP WINTER BLUES IN YOUR HOME
There’s nothing worse than a cold, damp home. Not only is it uncomfortable to live in, but it can also be detrimental to the health of your family, and to the investment you have made in the building.
The structural integrity of your property is crucial to ensuring it resists water ingress which could lead to damaging flood and damp issues. Keeping an eye on the weak points of water entry on your property is crucial to catching any damage early. In turn this means that any remedial work, and the resulting costs, can be kept to a minimum the fabric of the building is kept in a good state of repair.
If your property, though, has a basement with a history of flooding, or part of its structure is below ground level, you may want to consider waterproofing options. By choosing to waterproof your house through basement tanking you could be saving yourself considerable time and money in the future.
In the meantime, as winter sets in, survey your property from the top down to to check for potential damp issues.
Start with your roof
Check your roof for any loose or damaged tiles and flashing. Look out for moss growth, whilst also ensuring that your chimneys are not damaged with loose masonry or linings. While you are up high, check the gutters – any blocked gutters will stem the flow of water and create a potential for water ingress.
From the rooftop, move then into the roof space and perform a basic inspection, looking for any leaks, damp spots, or gaps that you can see daylight. If you do find any, call a professional roofer who will be able to advice how best to repair them.
Move down to the ground level
Basements, particularly in older properties, are notorious sources for damp and water ingress, and can be the source of regular floods if the weather is particularly inclement.
You may want to consider preventative measures by installing a basement tanking system, which is the only way you can guarantee that water is kept outside the building, and any risk of damp and flooding will be eliminated.
Basement tanking is the process of waterproofing any structure that is built below ground level.
If your basement requires membrane tanking, a damp proofing expert will implement a membrane into your walls to trap any groundwater in a cavity, which is then fed into a pump area and pumped away from the building. Internal walls are cleared of loose material and the necessary piping is sealed to the membrane. Channels will then be installed around the walls or floor to carry the water to an external drainage system.
Check Your Doors and Windows
Moving on to your doors and windows you need to check for water stains, patches of mould, rot, and loose fastenings. If you detect any damp patches or mould you may want to call in a window specialist to ensure that they are properly sealed against the elements.
Weatherproof Your Exterior Walls
Inspect your exterior walls for any cracks or decayed pointing. If you can remove chunks of cement/mortar with your fingers or scrape it away with a butter knife, call in a repointing expert for a quote. Furthermore, any cracks or holes in exterior walls should be filled in as soon as possible.
Clear Drainage, Pipes and Gutters of debris
Regularly clear your gutters of leaves and debris which would otherwise block the clear run of rainwater. This also applies to ground drains so that there is a clear passage for rainwater. Repair any broken or cracked gutters.
