Dampness in Walls and How You Can Prevent Your Walls from It

Wall Dampness

Dampness in walls is a very common problem that many independent homeowners face during monsoons. It is extremely vital that it is taken care of before monsoons begin. If not prevented, seepages start forming in the walls. Dampness causes multiple problems in the house like leakages, paint peeling, cracks, etc. If it is not dealt with properly, the moulds and fungus that form it can result in a negative impact on your health. Dampness can also cause damage to the structure of your house. This is why it's important to prevent it.

This blog will take you through the ins and outs of wall dampness and how you can prevent your walls from it, and safeguard your health and your home from the problems that it brings with it.

Types of Dampness

There are 3 types of dampness in walls :

1. Penetrating Dampness

2. Rising Dampness

3. Condensation Dampness

Let’s understand these types in detail.

• 1. Penetrating Dampness

• Water seeping through the walls is what leads to penetrating dampness.
  
  

• Causes

  Water may be entering the walls for a variety of reasons, including the following :

  • Your roof's rain gutters may be broken or clogged.

  • Bricks losing their ability to withstand the weather

  • Broken bricks
    

  • External wall cracks

  • Window and door frame fissures

  • Dripping pipes

  • Broken or missing roof tiles

     

  Solutions

  You must identify the causes of the dampness and address each one individually in order to eliminate it :

  • Repair and clean out damaged gutters

  • Replace and repair any missing or damaged roof tiles.

  • Patch up dings in the walls and the frames of the doors and windows.

  • Fix the pipes that are leaking

  • Replace porous bricks with water-repellent materials, or paint over them.

• 2. Rising Dampness
   

• Causes

• Water from the ground rises into the house as a result of capillary action, causing rising dampness. Structural problems with the building, specifically with the damp-proof course or membrane. The damp-proof course is a waterproof layer that is installed in a building's wall close to the ground to stop rising damp. It is typically a horizontal strip, built into the wall at least 15 cm above ground level, made of plastic or bitumen felt. To shield the home from rising groundwater, a waterproof sheet called a damp-proof membrane is positioned beneath the concrete floor. Rising dampness happens when the damp-proof course and membrane aren't working properly. Possibly no course or membrane exists.
   

  Solutions

  To fix rising dampness, you'll probably need a professional. 

  First, make sure your home has a damp-proof membrane or course. If you want to know if you do, you will need to consult an expert. A high ground level will also be problematic because water can seep into the walls through the earth. The damp-proof course should be 15 cm above ground level; however, if the ground level is too high, you will need to dig away the soil around the damp wall's exterior to a level below the course. To shield the wall from moisture, you can also seal it with asphalt.

• 3. Condensation Dampness

•  

• Causes

  Moisture in the air condenses on walls, resulting in condensation dampness. When warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface, like the walls, the air is unable to contain the moisture, which results in water droplets appearing and the growth of mould on your walls.

  Lack of ventilation, cold surfaces, and insufficient central heating all contribute to condensation.
   

  Solutions

  Condensation can be easily managed by you by :

  • Setting up double glazing ( rather expensive )

  • Using a dehumidifier.

  • Opening windows and adding air vents and fans will improve ventilation

  • Increasing the temperature when it's cold outside (if you live in the north of India)

  • Wiping down windows and the affected areas with a cloth to clear them

What Causes Seepage in Walls

The use of subpar raw materials or a failure to take waterproofing precautions seriously during construction may be the cause of water seepage in walls. Because the concrete building's exterior walls are exposed to the elements, prolonged exposure to rainwater can cause cracks in the outer covering and allow moisture and water to seep into the wall. The walls are damp as a result of the seepage. If wall seepage is not addressed quickly, this moisture seeps into the interiors and ruins the wall paint.

Some other reasons why water seepage happens in walls are :

1. Wall seepage can be caused by leaks in the sewage system, bathroom, kitchen, or water tank.

2.  Wall seepage can be caused by leaks in water supply lines, bathroom sanitary fittings, and drainage pipes.
   
3. Wall seepage from bathroom tile leaks is a possibility.
   
4. Severe seepage in walls can result from faulty plumbing in a home.
   
5. Wall seepage can occur if the exterior walls of buildings are not plastered.
   
6. Ground moisture that rises causes floors and wall seepage.
   
7. The absence of drainage pipes can cause water to accumulate on the roof or balcony, which can cause wall seepage.
   
8. Defective window frames or liners may also be the cause of seepage in walls. Water trickling and moisture buildup can result from cracked putty between the glass panes, broken caulking at the window seams, and insufficient paint seal along the glass' edges.
   
   

6 Ways to Prevent Walls from Dampness

• 1. Seal the cracks in the walls

• Your home's walls may crack over time. Usually, these cracks begin to show up close to the door and window frames. They permit moisture to seep into your building's structure, resulting in damp spots and seepages in the walls.
  
  
• Filling in cracks with wall crack filler is thus one of the best ways to stop water from leaking through walls. The wall must be repainted after all the loose plaster has been removed and the gaps and cracks have been filled. Just be sure to finish it before the monsoon season begins.

• 2. Waterproof Surface Treatments

• A lot of the exterior paints applied to buildings are porous, allowing water to seep into the interior walls. Exterior waterproofing coats can be applied to the exterior walls to stop water from penetrating the walls. The barrier that a waterproof coat will create will insulate walls and keep out rain and moisture, keeping walls from becoming damp.
  
  
• You can treat dampness in the interior walls by waterproofing the roof. Because of the harsh weather conditions that your roof is subjected to, water can easily gather on the surface and cause leaks and damp spots. A waterproof coating that serves as a sealant and prevents water seepage should ideally be applied to roofs.

• 3. Integral Damp Proof Systems

• You might occasionally notice wet spots all over the lower part of your walls, near the skirting. You might now be wondering how to stop water from leaking through walls.
  
  
• In order to prevent groundwater from penetrating your home's walls, install a damp-proof course. A preventive barrier made of an impervious material—something that prevents water from passing through—is added to the brick wall in a damp-proof course 150 mm above the ground level. This keeps moisture from damagingly rising through the walls.
  
  
• A damp-proof course is typically installed during the construction of most buildings. However, the course might need to be replaced if you've noticed damp patches on the lower part of your walls. This is a rigorous job that must be carried out by a specialist. So it's best to hire a specialist to assess the damage and, if necessary, replace the damp-proof course.
  
  
• During this season, keep in mind to keep your home well-ventilated. Take prompt action to eliminate any mould or fungus that may have developed on the walls as a result of the rain, as their presence can result in respiratory problems. Consult a specialist right away to prevent damp walls if you discover excessive moisture or large cracks in your walls.

• 4. Guniting

• Guniting is the process of coating pipes and walls with a thin layer of concrete mixture to make them waterproof.
  
  
• Gunite and shotcrete, however, are not the same. High-pressure concrete mixture spraying is known as shotcreting, whereas extremely rapid concrete mixture spraying is known as guniting. While both aid in lowering a structure's porosity, gunite typically lasts longer than shotcreting.

• 5. Pressure Grouting

• Applying cement and sand with a jet into crevices, cracks, or fissures in a structure is known as pressure grouting. Grouting not only helps to keep walls from getting damp but it can also be used to make a structure stronger and more rigid.