Homes: Telltale Signs of Damp

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Homes: Telltale Signs of Damp

22 February 2017
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


One of the biggest problems that your home can develop is damp. Nevertheless, it is understandable that a large number of homeowners may not even be aware that their residence is facing damp problems since they do not know how to spot the signs of this issue. The first thing you should note is that there are different types of damp that your home can be affected with. Secondly, damp will manifest itself in various forms. Therefore, it would be prudent to be aware of what signs you should be wary of so that you could stop this problem in its tracks. So what are some of the signs of damp that you should be on the lookout for?

There are stains and tidemarks on your walls

If you begin to notice inexplicable stains on your walls or suspicious tide marks, chances are your premises has been compromised by damp. Tidemarks are especially common when there is salt evaporation from the ground, rising up through your walls. Another symptom that should have you calling a professional is if you start to notice strange brown of yellow patches of staining on your walls. This would imply that the damp has penetrated through your walls and the moisture is making its way to the surface.

The paint or wallpaper is peeling

Another telltale sign of damp that you should be wary of is paint and/or wallpaper that has started to come off the walls. Typically, this peeling of the paint and wallpaper will start off at the skirting boards. This is because the moisture will be rising from the ground, compromising your walls. To determine the extent of the spreading damp, you should inspect the walls to see how far the curling of the wallpaper occurs or how far the paint is peeling.

The skirting boards are rotting    

If your home is made from timber building supplies, the presence of damp will eventually lead to rot. However, not many people may be aware that their sturdier is at risk of decay since it tends to happen inside the walls. This is why it is crucial to carry out regular inspections on your skirting boards. If they show signs of cracking or have started breeding fungus in localised areas, there is a high probability that they have been exposed to damp. Other telltale symptoms of rotting skirting boards include flaking timber, crumbling timber and more.