Patchy and isolated areas of damp usually worse after rain .....
Protect your personal assets from lateral damp. It’s easy enough to fix but leaving it will result in structural damage and costly repairs.
What Is Lateral Damp ?
Lateral damp (also known as penetrating damp) is when moisture is allowed to enter the structure in a horizontal direction. Gravity then causes the downward movement of the damp into other areas. Penetrating damp can create isolated patches of damp that increase in size after periods of heavy rain. The damp can occur at any level, unlike rising damp which usually rises from the ground up to 1.2 metres.
Lateral or penetrating damp is usually from a source too difficult to control and only an expert with a moisture metre detector can evaluate the difference in rising and lateral damp. Sometimes the problem may also require a plumber to pressure test the pipes to eliminate a leaking pipe being the main problem.
Causes Of Lateral Damp
- leaking water supplies or waste pipes
- fretted mortar joints
- defective brickwork
- failure of tile grouts in showers and other wet areas
- poorly functioning membrane in wet areas
- cracked render
- poor flashings
- defects in adjacent property outside the owners control
- air-conditioning or hot water system overflows can also lead to small localised patches of dampness.
Falling Damp
Falling damp is similar to lateral damp and starts in the roof and gutters. Falling damp results from poor flashings, damaged roofing, blocked or damaged drains, leaking gutters. Fallen leaves, bird droppings, moss and dirt all contain acids and salts which when carried by water into the masonry will no doubt cause decay.
