How to Damp Proof a Concrete Floor
Damp is never easy to deal with, especially since the problem will not go away unless you fix the origin. It is often also necessary to add damp proofing to your home, preventing them from causing any future issues for you.
It is no secret that damp can cause significant damage to property. Let's take a look without you can prevent damp from causing additional damage by damp proofing your concrete floors.
But before you condemn approve any part of your house, you should be able to identify all the weak areas are the causes of damp. This will need to be fixed before you can apply damp proofing.
There can be many causes of damp in your home. It can be anything from a cracked wall, to a chimney that is not installed correctly, or even personal broken pipes inside your wall.
This is why is often recommended that you consult an expert, who can give you helpful advice as to how you can prevent damp in the future. This will likely include a thorough inspection of your home. This will not only determine the extent of the damage caused by the damp but also to identify all the problem areas that need to be fixed.
From here, you can start to damp proof your home. You should especially pay attention to your concrete floors, as this is often overlooked when it comes to damp.
Moisture can also come through concrete walls and floors, which is why you can make use of various techniques to damp proof your floors in the home.
Types of Damp
There are various types of damp that can cause damage in your home, especially in your concrete floor. Rising damp is usually the culprit, and this happens when moisture or groundwater starts to rise up through your walls in a vertical manner.
You will also notice penetrating damp as it moves through your vertical walls. You will usually be able to identify this placing patches of mould on the inside of your internal walls. This is why damp proofing often includes your walls and floors.
Condensation can also be a culprit, and this happens when hot air gets in contact with cold surfaces. That's why you should ensure that you have a proper ventilation throughout your house. This will help to avoid condensation from causing damp problems. Condensation usually happens in rooms like your kitchen and bathroom, so these are the areas that you should look at first.
Damp is never easy to handle, but there are various ways in which you can eliminate this, and one way is to lower the ground level around the walls. However, this can be a bit more expensive to do, so it's important to always get expert advice before you start.
Another effective way is to damp proof your concrete floor. The goal is to eliminate any water or moisture from coming through again.
Applying Damp Proofing
If you want to apply damp proofing to your home, theories various ways in which you can do this. If you want to apply to your concrete floor, this is usually done with the help of a damp proof membrane.
A damp proof membrane is a waterproof sheet that is installed in your floors to help keep moisture out of your home. This is installed as part of a damp proof course in your home, and it's very effective too.
There are different types of damp proof membranes that can be used for your floors, depending on the installer you use, and your personal needs. These membranes can be made from aluminium, which is also often used for insulation materials.
Another option is polyethylene foil, and this is the most common choice in damp proof membranes. They are commonly used for concrete floors.
These damp proof membranes should also be fitted precisely. This should protect your insulation material and prevent moisture from entering your home and causing damage. It should always be installed underneath the insulation material so that it can block humid air before it reaches a colder area.
Ask your installer for advice and to explain how they will install these damp proof membranes in your floors.
All moisture should be eliminated with these damp proof membranes. So when you install these damp proof membranes it is important that you seal all the joints and holes.
You should seal off any part of membrane as it can allow moisture to come through. This will prevent any moisture from penetrating any part of your concrete floor, and causing damage.
When it comes to your concrete floors and walls, a damp proof course should not only be done after damp has caused damage. But it can be done to any home to prevent damage to walls, floors and ceilings. The quicker you stop the spread of damp, the easier it will be to repair the damage it has caused in your home. If a damp proof course is done professionally, it can last for years at a time.
Preventing Damp
Damp damage in your home is not always so easy to spot, but it's important to know how to identify the different signs of damp. Keep in mind that damp can easily appear after a flash flood, or it can take a longer time and slowly emerge as time goes by. It might even take a few years before you notice signs.
It's often necessary to get the help of an expert, as it's not always easy to do an assessment yourself. An expert will know exactly how to spot the signs of damp. Remember the earlier you identify your damp issue, the less expensive it will be to fix and the easier it will be as well.
Some of the signs of damp in your home include the following:
- A damp or musty smell throughout your home
- Discolouration of your plaster
- Dark patches on your walls
- Mould forming on your walls
- The appearance of salt stains on your exterior walls
- The decay of timber
As soon as you start noticing these signs, you should do an inspection of your home to fix any causes and also arrange for damp proofing to be installed. This will have to eliminate future damage, and it will also improve the value of your home when there is no damp damage present.
When you eliminate damp from your home, you will not only make your entire property look better. But you will also increase the overall value of your home. That's why it's important to always make sure that you do regular inspections of your home, even if you already have damp proofing installed.
You can get an expert to do an assessment of your home once a year, and look for any signs of damp starting to form. Also fix any causes of damp as soon as possible, so that it does not cause any future damage.
You want your house to look beautiful, and also to retain its value, especially if you may want to sell your property in the future. That's why regular assessment for damp is so important. This along with making sure that you have proper damp proofing installed throughout your home.