Damp is a common occurrence in most houses. The effect on properties can be dangerous. It damages the structure of the property and degrades it. The longer it is allowed to stay, the more damage it can cause. Damp proofing is the best method of protecting your property from damage.
Damp proofing involves creating a barrier in your home that prevents moisture from getting into the house. Excess water is most likely to enter the home through the walls and the floors. However, a control barrier can block these sources and prevent damage to the property.
Use a certified professional
When a certified tradesperson carries out the damp proofing work in your home, it ensures that the fault is completely set and will not result in future damage. If the cause of the damp is not corrected, it can result in extensive damage, making for a more expensive repair cost.
A fully qualified, licensed damp proofer is an expert when it comes to finding the cause of damps and applying the best method to each one. To ensure that you get a certified professional, you can hire from a reputable construction company or check out the reviews of the specialist to be sure they are well accredited.
Shop around for the best price
Damp proofing can be a bit expensive, depending on the cause of the dampness and the location. Different methods can be applied, and the cost is also determined by the type of method used. To save cost, you should shop for the best price possible; this will involve your research to know how much different specialists charge for the project. Most companies give free price estimates before coming to fix the problem, and the price estimate can help you decide which company to go for.
Treat sooner rather than later
The critical thing is to prevent dampness from occurring, but if it happens, it is best if it is detected early enough, this will save you from having to spend a lot of money to repair damaged properties and structures. Different signs can indicate the presence of increased moisture in your home.
Experts use different instruments and methods to determine the moisture level of a house and decide if it is high. As a non-professional, the typical sign of telling if your home is experiencing dampness is the presence of fungi. Fungi in the form of mould often infest a house or the wet area, and they show discolouration on any surface they occupy, especially woods and walls.
Companies with discounts
Professional companies provide better services, and their methods are usually reliable, and if you want to install a damp proof, it is best to employ their services. Some companies offer discounted prices to their existing and potential customers when their services are used; the deal often varies for these two categories of customers. You will be saving a lot of costs if you can get a company with an offer to install or repair your damp proofing.
Damp-proof paint
A damp-proof paint is a water-repellent agent that prevents moisture from entering through the walls. It prevents water from coming in by forming a protective barrier; while this barrier prevents moisture, it still allows evaporation to let the wall breathe. Although this is an easy way of damp proofing the walls of a house, there are still a few things to pay attention to.
The paint cannot fix the existing moisture problem, and a solution should be found to any water or moisture leaking in the house. The damp proof paint is a preventive method, and it can be used as a primer before applying a finishing paint. It can be applied to brick, concrete, plaster and cement.
Caution around free damp surveys
While every homeowner needs to carry out necessary maintenance when needed, it does not come cheap, and the cost should be saved as much as possible. A lot of companies reach out to homeowners with the offer of a free damp survey. Although damp surveys are needed to detect if your house is experiencing dampness or increased moisture, caution should be taken with companies that call to offer free surveys. Often, they commit unsuspecting people into carrying out an expensive repair when there is no real cause for it.
They can also trick homeowners into buying some of their chemicals or equipment to prevent dampness, and some of these chemicals can be dangerous for the walls of your house. To protect the integrity of the house structure, you should only use reputable companies for all of your services and get more than one survey to ensure there is consistency about the recommendation made.
Saving money on rising damp repair
Rising damp is a common form of damp in the house. It occurs by water rising from below the ground surface and entering into the house foundation. This form of dampness can cause a lot of havoc as it damages the foundation of the building. If left unchecked, it also rises through the walls by capillary action.
Houses are usually installed with a Damp-Proof Course (DPC) and a Damp-Proof Membrane (DPM) to prevent the problem of rising damp. If you are experiencing one, it might indicate the damage of the DPC and DPM and needs to be repaired or replaced. One of the cost-effective ways of repairing this damage is by drilling holes into the walls that are experiencing this dampness and injecting a DPM cream. The cream will act as a new course for the walls and will keep the moisture out.
Repairing damp proofing
There are several methods of repairing dampness; most of them depends on the type of damage done or the type of house. For common damp problems, there might be a need to replace the membrane. Grooves can be cut into the brickwork to prevent moisture from rising to the surface of the house. This is also similar to the replacement of DPM, which is usually for flooring.
Another effective method of repairing damp proofing is by sealing walls and floors to prevent moisture, especially for damp surfaces. This is done by coating the surfaces with asphalts or using any other suitable membrane; it will help prevent moisture from getting into the house.
The methods of repairing damp proofing usually require the opinions of experts and specialists as any wrong procedure can result in further problems that will cost a lot of money.
Ensure that the company includes a guarantee
When choosing a company that will help you with your repair, it is best to go for companies that guarantee their services and products. Carrying a repair on damp proofing requires substantial money, and it is not cost-effective to continue repeating the repair annually. A good proof should be able to stay as long as ten years. An advantage of using companies with guarantees is to ensure that if there is an error in the repair process, the company will replace it at no cost to you.
It is necessary to prevent moisture from getting into your home or resulting in damage. The effective ways of preventing this include having good ventilation, making use of dehumidifiers and damp-proofs. Damp proofs are essential for every home to prevent moisture; it needs to be replaced or repaired when the proof gets damaged. It is important to save cost while repairing by using certified professionals and going for companies with the best price and guarantee for their service.
