Homeowners are often house proud and with good reason. 

Buying a house is a huge investment, and not to be taken lightly. 

Unfortunately, at times even the best constructed properties can experience moisture entering via the subfloor. This could be condensation or other types of damp affecting your living space.

Some tell-tale signs that you have a moisture problem is a stale musty smell entering your home. You may also see sign of damp in your home. These may include mould growing and peeling wallpaper at your wall to floor junction.

If that’s an issue, it would be prudent to invest in subfloor ventilation. This will help combat the impact of damp and safeguard the health of both the building and your family.

What is subfloor ventilation?

As explained in The Spruce, ‘a subfloor is a solid base underneath your floor covering that you depend on for the stability of a room’s floors and walls.’ 

In your home this space that’s generally dark and can become damp. This can lead to potential damage to your home and health risks to your family. 

Subfloor ventilation is a remedy for these risks and has been likened to ‘opening a window and forcing fresh, cool, and clean air through your house and out the other side.’

Just as your walls and floor work together to create a structurally sound system, so too subfloor ventilation creates a system that draws out the damp, stale air from your home and circulates fresh air under your floor. 

These two aspects of subfloor ventilation can restore the right balance of moisture in your subfloor, thus treating the cause of damp-related damage. 

Does a subfloor need ventilation?

Unfortunately, at times it’s the signs that damage has already been done that lets us know a subfloor needs ventilation. 

Squeaking floorboards or rotting floor timbers are likely to indicate inadequate sub floor ventilation.

All suspended floors need sub floor ventilation. Concrete infills of part of your ground floor reduce ventilation. So do high external ground levels, sometimes blocking original ventilation. Furthermore, your home may have decorative vents, which are inefficient. 

These signs are not just unpleasant; they can also be a hazard to your health. Stale and damp air are perfect conditions for wet and dry rot and wood boring beetles.

On a human level, excessive moisture can exacerbate symptoms of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Certainly not what you would like to expose your loved ones to. 

For your home itself, moisture in a building from the subfloor can lead to rotting timber. Word worm may also be present. This can compromise the structure and safety of your home. 

Without adequate subfloor ventilation, these issues can lead to warped floors, damp and ruined carpets, health-compromising odours and mould growth and costly damage. 

How does subfloor ventilation work? 

A subfloor can be ventilated by placing vents on the external opposing walls in the subfloor of your home. 

Subfloor ventilation systems generally include vents that work to extract stale, damp air and circulate fresh, dry air into the subfloor. 

Depending on the area, ducting may be required to distribute the air. As the air is now able to circulate, it restores the correct moisture balance in the subfloor.

What are the requirements for subfloor ventilation in the UK?

BS 525 Management of Moisture in Buildings states that 4.4 ‘Floors next to the ground and floors exposed from below should be designed and constructed so that their structural and thermal performance are not adversely affected by interstitial condensation.’

As a result, UK building regulations stipulate the requirements for subfloor ventilation in the UK.

Which is as follows:

• Two opposing external walls should have ventilation openings placed so that the ventilated air will have a free path between opposite sides and to all sides
• The openings should not be less than either 1,500 mm2/m run of external wall or 500 mm2/m2 of floor area, whichever is the greater opening area
• Any pipes needed to carry ventilated air should have a diameter of at least 100mm
• Ventilated air space must be at least 75mm from the ground covering to any wall plates and at least 150mm to the underside of the suspended timber floor
• Ventilation openings must incorporate suitable grills to prevent vermin entering the subfloor without causing a restriction in airflow

Benefits of installing subfloor ventilation

BS 525 Management of Moisture in Buildings states ‘Moisture in buildings is a significant cause of many building failures, including some building related occupant health problems.’ 

Subfloor ventilation offers a you peace of mind that your two most precious assets, your loved ones and your home, are protected from health issues and costly damage that could otherwise arise from moisture in your home. 

How much does it cost to install subfloor ventilation?

The cost of installing subfloor ventilation will depend on several factors including the size of the building and any ducting required, the choice of ventilation products, as well as any existing damage that may first need to be addressed. 

To find out more about costs of installing your subfloor ventilation contact the professional and experienced team at Atlantis Property to arrange a survey of your property’s unique needs and a quote to protect your home with subfloor ventilation.

Damp issues can be a home seller’s worst nightmare. Damp can effect the value of your home. It can affect potential buyers’ perception of your home and how much you can make from a sale.

In this article, the experts at Atlantis will explain how damp can affect the value of your home, and how a damp survey can save you time while maximising your earnings.

Can You Sell a House with Damp Issues?

Although you can sell a house with damp, you have a legal obligation to disclose damp issues to potential buyers. That obligation still exists even if the damp is not clearly visible, for example if it’s covered by a coat of paint.

How Much Does Damp effect the value of your home?

Damp issues will affect the value of your home and how much you can sell it for. Many potential buyers will be concerned if you disclose that your home has damp issues. Remaining buyers will likely use your damp issues as leverage to offer a lower price. If the issue is particularly visible or severe, buyers would consider the additional time and cost of fixing the damp should they purchase your home.

If you’re working with an estate agent, you may be advised to consider other selling options such as private sale or auction, because the house has a lower market value. This naturally leads to a lower commission for them, therefore they may encourage a quick sale.

Ultimately, the severity of the damp will determine its effect on house prices. Conducting a damp survey will give an accurate account of the damp issues in your home.

Should You Fix Damp Before Selling Your House?

It would be wise to address your home’s damp issues before selling. This action may increase your homes value. Even a history of damp is unattractive to some buyers. However, it will significantly decrease the devaluation of your home due to unfixed damp. You’re more likely to get an offer closer to your asking price.

Fixing damp issues after putting your house on the market will delay a sale. Buyers will see your house as a project, rather than a home. Furthermore, the longer your house sits on the market, the  more other buyers will assume there’s something wrong with it. Therefore, it’s better to address damp issues before putting your house up for sale.

What Is a Damp Survey and How Can It Help?

A dampness survey is an evaluation to determine the presence and extent of damp in a building.

Having a professional conduct a dampness survey before listing your house is the best course of action, because it will provide useful information that can be used before and during the sale.

You’ll receive a report on whether you have damp and the severity of the issue. If you intend to fix the damp prior to sale, an expert can estimate the cost and time of repairs. If you intend to sell without making repairs, the report can be used to adjust your asking price and explain the issue to potential buyers.

Contact Atlantis to Book Your Damp Survey

Identifying damp before putting your house on the market can determine the value of your home and affect how you proceed with the sale.

Contact Atlantis a PCA Qualified surveyor today for more information on a dampness survey.

 Penetrating damp, rising damp and even condensation can cause serious damage if your property isn’t properly protected.

Without appropriate treatment, damp can lead to serious structural issues, unpleasant and hazardous living conditions, and expensive repairs.

Damp proofing is vital. In this article, the experts at Atlantis Damp explain how to damp proof your home.

What Is Damp Proofing?

Damp proofing is essential if you want to keep your home structurally sound and safe to live in.

But what exactly is damp proofing?

There are three main types of damp that could affect your home. These are rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation. Damp proofing aims to combat rising damp.

There are several ways to tackle damp issues within a property, but the main methods will involve a combination of the following:

• Repairing and maintaining infrastructures such as drains and gutters to reduce risk of penetrating damp
• Making structural improvements, such as installing a damp-proof course to reduce the risk of rising damp
• Improving ventilation to avoid condensation

What Happens If Damp Is Left Untreated?

If damp is left untreated, it can cause serious structural problems within your home. Importantly, toxic black mould can also cause health problems to residents, which is why it’s so important to have problems fixed as soon as possible.

If damp is left untreated, you could experience the following problems in your home:

• Damaged wallpaper, plaster boards and decoration
• Damaged walls and timber supports
• Fungal growths and musty smells
• Crumbling masonry and brickwork
• Respiratory illnesses
• Serious structural damage to property

What Is the Best Method of Damp Proofing?

Damp proofing involves protecting your home against unwanted moisture and water entering the property.

This can be as simple as opening windows when showering to avoid condensation build-ups, or it could require more complex work, such as installing a chemical damp-proof course to protect against rising damp.

Your home will need to be protected against all three types of damp, and you will need to use the following methods to do so:

• Ventilation: opening windows; installing extractor fans or dehumidifiers to stop condensation. Whole house, PIV ventilation units are often recommended. 
• Removing potential water sources: fixing broken guttering pipes or installing better drainage systems to remove water sources that can cause dampness.
• Damp-Proof Course: installing a damp-proof course (usually a chemical damp-proof course that’s injected into the walls) to create a waterproof barrier that stops water from rising from the earth up the walls of your home.
• Groundwork: lowering the ground level around your home to ensure water can’t seep in from the outside. An internal tanking solution may also be recommended when external levels remain higher than internal floor levels.

Why Is It Better to Hire Damp Proofing Specialists to Damp Proof Your Home?

If you need to damp proof your home, it’s always best to hire a damp proofing specialist to carry out the work.

Damp proofing is complex, as there are multiple types of damp that need to be protected against, across a property. 

Different types of damp require different solutions, so it’s important to have an expert identify the cause of problems and highlight the best way to treat the damp and protect against it in the future.

Contact Atlantis Damp to Find Out More About Damp Proofing Your Home

Atlantis Damp’s experienced team of damp proofing specialists will ensure that your property is fully protected.

Contact our friendly staff today to find out how we can damp proof your home.