Property expert advises homeowners to check for water damage after recent bad weather

As the country starts to clean up and assess the damage of the recent storms, the UK market leaders in property maintenance, Peter Cox, advise homeowners and landlords to carry out a few basic checks, to look for any penetration of rainwater.

Richard Walker said:  “Water damage can have a devastating effect on a building and can cause damage after even minimal rain. Some problems, if left unchecked, can lead to thousands of pounds worth of property damage or could even compromise your health.”

When people think of rain damage they usually assume it will come from the roof but that is not always the case. Leaks and water penetration can also occur through walls, the chimney, windows and doors, and if you have experienced water tables and floods, even up through the floors.

First, look for standing water on drive ways and outside your property.  This is a tell-tale sign that water is not draining away. It could be rectified by cleaning drains to allow the water to run off – however, if this fails it could mean that water is not draining away and could be running into your building. If you have a cellar or basement, check it for leaks, damp, mould and standing puddles of water.

Gutters should be inspected and cleaned for any blockages.  If water overflows it could seep into your building masonry. This will eventually become visible as a damp patch on the internal wall surface - often causing discolouration and peeling or flaking of paintwork or wallpaper and even plaster damage.

This in turn may turn into mould. Mould fungi are not always visible as they prefer dark, moist areas and so can colonise inaccessible parts of the home such as wall cavities, insulation or under floorboards. Some types of mould can cause health problems especially for the very young and the very old.

Richard said:  “Mould won’t appear immediately after water leakage, but if you have found water, we recommend you keep checking for mould on a regular basis as it could take a few weeks to appear.”

Dry rot and wet rot in the home are the most frequent and serious causes of timber damage in domestic properties. Both types of ‘rot’ can cause widespread damage to the timber and affect its strength and severely damage a building. Roof failure, leaking gutters and poor sub-floor ventilation can be the starting point for the rot to get a foothold.

The first evidence of a dry rot outbreak may be a mushroom-like fruiting body or fine grey-white hyphae strands spreading over the wood, which can appear overnight. Although it is called 'dry rot', dampness is a key factor, so dealing with any sources of moisture is the first action to take, and then ventilate the area to aid the drying process.

“The problem with water is that in some cases damage is not always immediately apparent,” said Richard.  “If your home has taken a battering in the storms and you find areas where water or damp is evident, keep a watchful eye for problems as they can sometimes take a few weeks or even months to develop into something that will become a lot worse.”

Further information on water damage and is treatment is available at www.petercox.com

Keep Out the Wet Weather with Damp Proofing Services

Winter has arrived, bringing with it the major challenge of damp and condensation in the home faced by people across the UK. If left untreated, damp can spread throughout a property and cause serious health issues, particularly for asthma and allergy sufferers. Damp problems in the home are particularly prevalent during winter months due to the increased difference in temperature between the cold outdoors and the inside of the home. This leads to moisture seeping through windows and walls, creating damp problems which can lead to issues such as dry rot, wet rot, and mould affecting the home.

Damp problems can cause the deterioration of structural timber, which can be a serious problem for buildings. However, with the assistance of a damp proofing specialist such as Peter Cox, you can easily ensure your home’s protection from any damp issues during winter. Their experienced damp specialists will be able to analyse your situation and provide effective damp proofing treatments tailored to your property.

So, how can you protect your home against damp problems this winter?

Ventilate to Remove Moisture: An effective method of prevent damp and condensation is by ventilating your rooms to keep air flowing. All you need to do is open the windows slightly to facilitate the escape of warm air to the outside and let in cool air.

Extractor Fans: Always use extractor fans for particularly humid areas such as the kitchen and bathroom. This helps to prevent moisture building up in the attic by evacuating air outside quickly. Doing this will prevent the moist air reaching other rooms - particularly bedrooms, which are often colder and more likely to be affected by condensation.

Heating: Use low levels of heat all day long rather than short bursts of high heat when you are in the house. Avoid using kerosene heaters as they release up to one litre of water per hour.

Insulation and draught-proofing: By blocking off draughts and insulating your loft, winter condensation and dampness can be prevented to a considerable extent. While draught-proofing, ensure that you do not block any permanent vents or rooms where there is condensation or mould.

Damp Proofing: Using a damp proofing specialist such as Peter Cox is the most effective method of preventing rising damp and penetrating damp in the home. They introduce their DryWall silane diffusion mixture into the wall, which reacts with the masonry to form a water-repellent resin which can prevent damp problems. Their affable, affordable service comes with a twenty-year guarantee.

By taking a few simple steps to prevent damp in the home during winter, you will be able to prevent any long term serious damage like mould, dry rot, and wet rot in the home whilst keeping it a happy, healthy place to live.

 

For more about damp proofing your property please click here