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What are the main signs of damp in your home?

What are the main signs of damp in your home?

by | Sep 27, 2022

Have you noticed a pungent, mushroomy smell wafting through your home? Are mould or stains forming on your walls or ceilings?

If the answer is yes, then you’re likely to be witnessing the first signs of condensation in your home.

Homeowners should be aware of the damage that condensation and damp can cause, and act fast to have it removed.

In this article, we identify the main signs of condensation and damp to watch out for, before explaining how you can treat damp in your home.

What Are the Main Signs of Damp?

Musty smells, visible moisture staining, rotting timbers and growths of mould are all visible signs of Condensation in your home.

But there are many more signs that may go unnoticed and only become apparent after a thorough inspection of the premises.

If you’ve noticed any of the following signs of damp or condensation, it’s time to call in a professional for a closer look:

  • Pungent, mushroom-like smells
  • Mouldy patches
  • Damp patches
  • Rotting timbers and woodwork
  • Salty tide marks on the walls
  • Cold or wet ceilings, walls or floors
  • Peeling plasterboard or wallpaper
  • Water droplets clinging to walls
  • Damaged or crumbling masonry
  • Leaks, broken pipes or damaged drains

What Problems Can Damp Leave You With?

Damp can damage your home, cause health problems, and lead to serious structural issues if left untreated. Major problems caused by damp include:

  • Damaged decoration and furnishings
  • Health issues, such as coughing, asthma and other respiratory problems
  • Rotten timbers and weakened structural supports
  • Weakened brickwork and masonry
  • The need for costly repairs

How Can You Treat Damp and condensation in Your Home?

If you spot any of the main signs of damp and condensation in your home, it’s important to schedule a professional damp survey immediately. A survey is the first step towards treating damp, and the surveyor will identify the cause, source and type of damp afflicting your home before recommending the best fix.

The exact treatment will depend on the type of damp, the extent of the damp problem and where it’s located, but common fixes include:

  • Install ventilation systems
  • Injecting a chemical damp proof course
  • Repairing or replacing damaged brickwork and rotten timbers
  • Replastering walls with damp-proof materials
  • Lowering the external ground level of a building so it’s below the damp-proof course

How Can You Protect Your Home From Damp and condensation?

There are several ways to protect your home from damp in the future, the majority of which involve removing opportunities for moisture to enter your home and allowing moisture laden air to escape your home too. Common methods include:

  • Ensuring all pipes and gutters are fixed and clear of debris
  • Keeping your home well ventilated
  • installing ventilation systems
  • Injecting a damp-proof course into the walls

Contact Atlantis Property Preservation is to Find Out More about the Main Signs of Damp and Condensation

If you’re worried about damp in your home, Atlantis Property Preservation is here to help. Our highly qualified team of experts can advise you on the main signs of damp and carry out a professional survey to identify its source.

For more information or to book your damp survey, contact the friendly team at Atlantis Property Preservation today.

What is a damp survey?

by | Aug 23, 2022

A damp survey is a thorough investigation of a property carried out by a professional in order to determine if there is any damp present. It’s vital to have one carried out if you’re purchasing a new property or if you believe your home might be experiencing problems associated with dampness. 

In this article, we explain what a damp survey is, what it involves, and how long it takes. 

How to Tell If You Need a Damp Survey

A damp survey is a report compiled by a professional damp specialist. There are several instances when you might require one, including:

  • If you are purchasing a new property
  • If you are selling your property
  • If you suspect you might have damp
  • If you notice any signs of damp

If you notice any of the following signs, there’s a high probability you have damp in your home. You should arrange for a survey to confirm this. These signs include:

  • Musty or fungal smells
  • Visible mould
  • Rotting timbers
  • Damaged plaster or wallpaper
  • Broken masonry
  • Salty tide marks on walls

What Does a Damp Survey Show?

Importantly, a damp survey will confirm the presence of damp in a property and can also show what type of damp is present. 

A thorough damp survey will confirm if you have any of the following in your home:

  • Condensation
  • Rising damp
  • Penetrating damp

Damp surveys are often carried out as part of a wider ‘damp and timber survey’, where a specialist will check for wet and dry rot, woodworm infestations, and other issues associated with damp and timbers. 

What Is Involved in a Damp Survey?

A comprehensive damp survey will involve a professional entering your property and carrying out a number of different investigations and tests. They will ask the property owner a number of questions in order to find out how old the property is, whether there are any noticeable problems, and more. Once the survey has been carried out, the specialist will compile a report based on their data, observations and findings. 

A few of the key steps that a damp surveyor will undertake include:

  • Asking the property owner questions
  • Looking at the history of the property
  • Taking physical observations of the property
  • Assessing visible signs of damp
  • Using specialist equipment such as a damp meter to locate damp

How Long Does a Damp Survey Take?

The time it takes for a damp survey to be carried out depends on the size of the property and the extent of any problems that may be found. This does not include the time required to compile the report afterwards. 

Contact Atlantis Damp to Book Your Damp Survey

If you’re worried about damp in your home or if you’d like a thorough damp survey carried out when purchasing a new property, Atlantis Damp is here to help. 

For more information or to book your damp survey, contact the friendly team at Atlantis Damp today. 

How to damp proof your home

How to damp proof your home

by | Jul 22, 2022

 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.

What Are the Different Types of Wall Ties?

What Are the Different Types of Wall Ties?

by | Jul 5, 2022

From masonry wall ties to timber wall ties, different types of wall ties are designed for different purposes, so it’s crucial that the right wall ties are selected for the task at hand.

In this article, the experts at Atlantis Damp explain everything you need to know about the different designs and types of wall ties, and when and where they are needed.

What Is a Wall Tie?

A wall tie is a thin strip of metal designed to hold two layers of masonry together. They are commonly produced from zinc, steel and other metal alloys, and are usually installed in the cavity space between an inner and outer wall.

Wall ties are vital to the structural integrity of a property. They provide the support that’s necessary for a building to be constructed with two layers of brickwork or masonry. If they fail, the walls will become destabilised and could even collapse.

Because wall ties allow for the creation of a cavity space, they are also important for insulation.

This cavity space can be filled with insulating materials, which then keeps heat in and energy costs down.

What Are the Different Types of Wall Ties?

Because they are vital to the structural integrity of a property, it’s important that the correct wall ties are installed.

The most common types of wall ties include:

  • Masonry to Masonry Wall Ties: Are designed to hold two layers of masonry together, thereby allowing for a secure inner and outer wall with a cavity space in between. There are three major designs of masonry-to-masonry wall ties, and they are classed as ‘heavy duty’, ‘general purpose’ or ‘light duty’ wall ties.
  • Masonry to Timber Wall Ties: Designed to hold an outer wall of brickwork together with an inner wall that’s been constructed from timber.
  • Lateral Restraint Wall Ties: Designed to stop any lateral movement occurring between a layer of masonry and existing structures in a building, such as supports or older walls.
  • Remedial Wall Ties: Are specifically designed to be installed into an existing cavity space where wall ties have become damaged, broken or corroded.

There are several other types of wall ties, too, which are often suitable for specific or niche construction purposes. 

How Do I Know Which Type of Wall Tie I Need?

The most common types of wall ties needed are generally masonry to masonry wall ties. If the walls in your property are constructed from different materials, such as timber, then it may also be readily apparent which type you require.

However, because of the importance of wall ties to the structure of a home, it’s vital that you seek professional assistance when replacing wall ties or installing new ones.

Contact Atlantis Damp Today for More Information on Different Types of Wall Ties

Atlantis Damp provides a comprehensive range of wall tie services. 

Wall tie failure can lead to serious structural issues, but our experienced team is on hand to carry out surveys, maintenance and repair work to ensure your property is safe.

Contact Atlantis Damp today for more information on different types of wall ties, and to find out how we can help you.

What are wall ties?

What are wall ties?

by | May 24, 2022

Wall ties hold the walls of buildings together, providing vital structural support and allowing for the existence of insulating cavity spaces. Wall ties are integral but over time they can corrode and decay, so it’s important to have regular surveying and replacement work carried out by a professional when necessary. 

In this article, the team at Atlantis Damp explains what wall ties are, why you need them and when they need replacing. 

What Are Wall Ties?

Wall ties are strips of metal or metal rods, usually produced from zinc, steel, or other metals. These metal rods are used to hold two separate layers of brickwork together, and you’ll find them placed in the cavity space between an inner and outer wall in modern properties.

Why Do You Need Wall Ties?

Wall ties play an integral role in the structure of your home. Without wall ties, it would be difficult to construct the sturdy inner and outer walls that modern homes are built with today. They literally hold these two sets of brickwork together and, in this respect, are vital to the stability of your home.

Because wall ties allow this type of cavity wall to be safely constructed, they also become vital for insulation. Cavity spaces between these layers of wall are commonly filled with insulating materials, thereby allowing homeowners to keep their houses warm while saving on energy costs. 

Why Do Wall Ties Need Replacing?

Wall ties are made from long-lasting metal materials, but unfortunately they aren’t indestructible. The most common reason that wall ties need replacing is corrosion, a natural process that can’t necessarily be halted, only slowed down.

Wall ties can fail and need replacing for a number of different reasons, including:

  • Corrosion
  • Subsidence
  • Extreme weather or natural events
  • Damaged masonry or brickwork

If wall ties aren’t replaced, then wall tie failure can lead to damaged brickwork, structural damage, poor insulation in your home, the need for costly repairs, and more. 

Damaged and corroded wall ties can pose a danger to the structural integrity of your property. If you’re concerned that your wall ties could be failing, the team at Atlantis Damp can carry out surveys and repair work to ensure that your home is safe.

Contact Atlantis Damp today for more information on replacing wall ties.