Dampness can come in many forms and due to the fact that it can all too easily negatively impact on any building, it is very important that the issue and the causes of the issue are correctly identified. Too often property owners are incorrectly informed that their damp or moisture issue is caused by the incorrect attribute. For example, householders are often informed that their internal condensation is caused by excess moisture in the subfloor AND that adding subfloor ventilation will resolve internal condensation. This is incorrect. The most common damp or moisture issues that householders have to deal with are ( externally) rising damp and (internal) condensation. These are the two most common afflictions that befall domestic buildings. Dampness is always caused by water whether in liquid form or evaporating form. Ground water will cause issues for any poorly drained property and the water table can be a difficult problem to overcome if the water table in your location is high, or easily saturated. Our property inspections will determine the cause of your damp issues and our scope of works will provide you with the guidance to resolve your issues either with contractors or on your own. We undertake damp inspections right across Melbourne and all of Victoria.
Rising damp is always located in brick buildings and is the process whereby moisture gets drawn into the masonry bricks and mortar and then slowly rises upwards via capillary action. As the moisture rises thrpough the bricks and mortar, the salt and mineral deposits that are in the moisture expand and contract as the moisture levels rise and fall and force disruption upon the masonry surfaces. Oveer time the mortar and the bricks can erode, over many years.
It is important to understand that dampness that invades masonry works is generally NOT a major defect. Many building inspectors flag dampness located in a brick wall as a major defect when nothing could be further from the truth. The impact of moisture in your masonary wall surface will take years to develop. The only time it becomes a structural defect is when the mortar has eroded to such an extent that bricks can become unstable.
Internally rising damp will reveal itself by way of blistered plaster and render or decay of existing mortar if the brick wall is natural. These issues are caused by moisture entering the built environment via capillary action or from outside (lateral damp) or even both. The causes of any rising damp need to be identified so it can be rectified.
Externally, the issue will show itself by salt deposits on the brick wall and/or erosion of the mortar course and in extreme instances, erosion of the brickwork itself.
A very common issue in households during the winter season is condensation. Often people misunderstand why condensation has formed and its relationship with mould growth. Mould only grows when moisture is present, so if condensation can be reduced enough, mould will not grow any longer. Condensation is almost always caused by trapped, excessive moisture in the built environment which, as the temperature cools overnight, condensates on the coldest and stillest surfaces in the room. Often mould will grow due to trapped moisture underneath beds, inside cupboards, etc. Condensation is resolved by increasing heat and increasing ventilation, possibly both. Condensation is resolved by increasing the temperature in the impacted room or rooms and increasing ventilation. Our testing during our property inspections can easily identify the causes of condensation formation in your property and our scope of works will provide the solution to your condensation issue.