How to spot wet rot at home

by AtlantisDamp | Sep 2, 2021

When it comes to the materials that are used to build houses, timber is up there with one of the most common. However, a negative that is associated with the use of timber in homes is that it is a vulnerable material that needs to be well protected. The biggest threat to this type of material is the fact that it can rot, which definitely isn’t good. There are also other different materials that are used in home construction that could be susceptible to rot. There are two types of rotting that can occur, and these are dry rot and wet rot. These are two very different types of rotting, and the treatments vary for either one.

In this article, we are going to tell you all about these two types of rotting, so you can learn to distinguish between the two. We will also let you know how to identify any rotting in your home and how it can be treated. In terms of treatment, this is not something that you will be able to do yourself, and you will have to hire a professional to come out and fix the problem.

What is Wet Rot?

Wet rot is a type of fungus that can affect any timber that has become damp. You can also find this type of rot in things like plaster, wallpaper, and even carpets. The wet rot spores are attracted to any materials that have a high moisture content. This type of rot is typically the least destructive of the two, as it remains confined to the wet area. However, this does not mean that it doesn’t need to be treated because it does. If left unmonitored, it can begin to affect the structural integrity of a building, which can quickly become very dangerous.

There are different types of wet rot, but the most commonly found ones are Coniophora and Puteana. Wet rot typically occurs when a high level of moisture has been present in a material for a long period of time. The decay that occurs in damp or wet materials will cause them to soften, and they will begin to rot. The cause of the moisture can come from a variety of different sources, including things like leaks, moisture from bathrooms, condensation, and dampness in the walls.

How to Identify Wet Rot

Identifying that you have a wet rot problem is where things start to get a little bit trickier. This is usually due to the fact that some of the signs to look out for are similar to those of dry rot. Ideally, you will need a professional to come and identify the type of rot, but there are some signs that you can look out for.

Usually, wet rot will make timber a darker color, sometimes even just in the affected areas, and it will also make it soft and spongy to the touch. It can also lead to materials having a cracked appearance that can be known to crumble when it has dried out. It will usually cause materials to shrink due to the fact that they are breaking down, and it usually has a damp and musty smell that is easy to identify.

When looking for signs of wet rot, you will usually find that there is damaged or flaky paint, but this might not always be the case. If you are concerned about a wooden area, try sticking a screwdriver into the wood. If it goes in really easily, then it is likely that you have a wet rot problem.

You are more likely to find signs of wet rot in places like cellars, garages, roofs, and around the windows. However, it is not limited to such places.

How to Treat Wet Rot

The best way to start treating wet rot is by identifying the source of the moisture and stopping it. This will get rid of the factor that is causing the problem, allowing you to efficiently treat it. In some cases that are majorly affected by wet damp, the original timber or other material might need to be completely replaced, but in most cases, it can be treated.

What is Dry Rot?

Dry rot is the worst of the two types of rot that can occur in your home. It is a serious form of fungal decay that will attack the timber in buildings and degrade the strength of the structure. This type of rot does not require any moisture to spread, as it can generate its own. Once it has started to spread, it will not stop unless it has been treated, and it can majorly impact the safety of a building structure.

You will need to hire a professional to identify the rot and what is causing it, but in some cases, the timber may need to be replaced. Dry rot spores already exist around us, but under the right conditions, they can become a real problem. The conditions in which it will thrive is when there is damp timber that has a moisture content of roughly 20%, which is also accessible to air.

Dry rot can be caused by a variety of things, including leaking gutters, dampness in the walls, poor or compromised ventilation, and rising damp. The dry rot spores will land on the timber and start to grow, eventually infiltrating the timber.

How to Identify Dry Rot

In the early stages, it can be difficult to identify dry rot in your home, but it becomes more evident as time goes by. However, there are some signs that you can look out for to help you to identify if you have a problem or not.

In some cases, you might be able to see fine and fluffy mycelium spreading across the wood, and you can also see grey/white color skin with colored patches across the wood. Later in the rot cycle, you will see mushroom-like fruiting bodies, which are usually an orange/brown color with rust in the center. At this stage, you may also see red dust around these fruiting bodies.

It can be more difficult to spot dry rot when it is in the flooring, as it is often out of sight. However, some signs to look out for are when the floor feels springy, it drops away from the skirting boards, or the floorboards start to creak more. Signs of dry rot in walls are also difficult to spot. However, this type of rot often smells damp and musty.

How to Treat Dry Rot

Similarly to treating wet rot, you will need to identify the thing that is causing the rot to occur and stop it from happening. You will also then need to find out how far the rot has spread and how bad the damage is. A professional will likely need to remove parts of walls or flooring to find out, depending on where the rot is located. Only when they have seen the extent of the damage can they begin to treat it.

Penetrating Damp: Costs to Fix

by AtlantisDamp | Sep 2, 2021

Penetrating damp is a serious problem that can rapidly lead to dangerous structural issues if not fixed.

Caused by water leaking through walls or ceilings, penetrating damp needs to be stopped quickly in order to limit the damage it causes.

But how much does penetrating damp cost to fix? Our experts have all the answers…

What Is Penetrating Damp?

Penetrating damp is one of three main types of damp that properties in the UK regularly experience – the others being rising damp and condensation.

It occurs when water begins to accumulate in the walls or ceilings inside a property. Water can penetrate into the home through cracks in the walls, because of a lack of waterproofing, or because of any number of faults in the structure of the building, such as broken tiles or damaged windows.

Penetrating damp can quickly lead to mould, decay, peeling plaster, wood rot and much more. If left untreated, it can eventually cause dangerous structural damage to a property and lead to health problems for its residents.

What Does Penetrating Damp Treatment Involve?

There are several different ways to treat penetrating damp, so it’s important to speak to a professional in order to have the best solution applied.

The most common treatment for penetrating damp is to have a damp-proof course installed. This involves installing a waterproof membrane in the affected area, to stop any damp from spreading.

How Much Does Penetrating Damp Cost to Fix?

So how much does penetrating damp cost to fix? There’s no definitive answer to this question, as the overall cost of a penetrating damp treatment depends on a number of factors. For this reason, it’s important to consult a professional for an accurate survey and cost analysis.

The main factors that affect the cost include:

The extent of the penetrating damp problem
The location of the penetrating damp problem
The amount of damage already caused
The type of treatment required
The amount of time needed to fix the penetrating damp problem

The longer penetrating damp is left untreated, the more damage it’s likely to cause, which is why it’s so important to act quickly. The more damage there is, the more it’s going to cost.

Different treatments have different costs attached to them, too, but the most cost-effective method is to install a damp-proof course in the affected areas. This is a long-term solution, but costs depend on how much of the home needs to be damp proofed and how accessible the affected areas are. Remember, any damaged plaster, tiles, timbers, masonry or decoration will all have associated costs in order to be fixed, too.

Contact Atlantis Property Preservation for More Information on Penetrating Damp Treatments

The team of experts at Atlantis Property Preservation is ready to help you with any penetrating damp problems. The longer penetrating damp is left untreated, the more damage it can cause, so contact us today to arrange a full inspection of your property.

Our penetrating damp specialists will identify the source of the damp, and provide you with a full breakdown of the work and costs needed to fix it. If you’re concerned about penetrating damp in your home, then call our team today on 0800 0988 277 or email us at atlantisdamp@gmail.com to find out more.

Causes of penetrating damp

by AtlantisDamp | Jul 29, 2021

Penetrating damp occurs when you get a development of moisture in the walls and ceiling or below the ground level of a building. As with other forms of damp, if this is left untreated, it can cause structural issues as well as damage to the fabric of the building.

Unlike rising damp, penetrating damp can occur at any level in the property. This type of damp can affect buildings of any age. That said, an older property that has not been maintained correctly is at a greater risk of penetrating damp.

Penetrating damp can occur in isolated areas or it might affect the full wall. This may worsen after bouts of heavy rain. It often affects areas of your home that are exposed to the most severe weather conditions. It may also affect homes with missing roof tiles or damaged gutters and downpipes.

In this article, we’ll look at the causes of penetrating damp and how to spot it.

How to Spot Penetrating Damp

When you first spot penetrating damp, you may see watermarks although these will continue to grow as water enters. Mould may start to grow too. In addition to mould, you may notice the musty smell that goes with it.

You may also see damaged or misshapen plaster or signs of salting. Salting is caused by water pushing out the salts that are found in the wall toward the surface. This results in a fluffy residue being left on the surface of the decor.

You may spot areas of localised dampness. These may seem completely random and may not dry out however you try and do it.

You may also find that there is damage to the internal decor. There may be damp patches or discoloured tidemarks. There may also be rotting around skirting boards and architraves.

What Are the Causes of Penetrating Damp?

Penetrating damp often happens when there are defects in the property. For instance, you may have defective or damaged roof coverings, faulty pointing, or a rainwater pipe with a leak.

Often, the major problem is that render, pointing, or brickwork has deteriorated over time. This can be caused by frost or physical damage. Storm damage is another common cause on older buildings.

If the structure of the property is at fault, then it might allow moisture to soak through the wall completely. This signifies that your waterproofing system is at fault.

You may also find penetrating damp in places where the external ground level is higher than the internal floor, or where the damp-proof membranes in your concrete floors aren’t doing their job properly.

It is also common to find damp in areas below ground level such as in your cellar.

It’s important that you get your penetrating damp diagnosed professionally so that the right course of action can be carried out.

How Can We Help You With Your Penetrating Damp?

At Atlantis Property Preservation, we have a team of experts who can successfully identify your penetrating damp. Not only will they resolve this issue you’re currently having, but they will be able to prevent it from happening again in future.

We’ll carry out a full investigation into the causes of moisture and penetrating damp in your property and find the right method for treating it. You’ll get a full written report which will include our recommendations and a breakdown of the costs involved to remedy it.

If you’re concerned about penetrating damp in your property, let our team of experts advise you on the best course of action to take. Call is today on 0800 0988 277 or email us at atlantisdamp@gmail.com for more information.

Damp Proofing a Cellar Conversion

by AtlantisDamp | Jul 29, 2021

To increase value and make more space, more-and-more homeowners are looking for ways to extend their homes. Often, this means building outwards or getting a loft conversion. One of the more overlooked options is to get a cellar conversion.

Thanks, in part, to better and more cost-effective waterproofing methods, many homeowners are starting to look towards their cellar as a great option for expanding their home.

Let’s discuss some of the benefits of damp proofing and how you can convert your cellar.

What Are the Benefits Of a Cellar Conversion?

There are several key benefits to getting a cellar conversion in your property. These include:

Increases the square footage of your property giving you additional living space

Improves the value of your home
Makes good use of a space that was previously unused
Adds to the salability of your home
Lets you rent out extra space

In addition to these benefits, you’ll also be able to maximise the potential for your existing space. By moving one of your rooms down into the basement, you’ll be able to free up some of your above-ground space.

Alternatively, you could use your basement for something a bit more ambitious such as to house a swimming pool, a gym, or a cinema.

With the right help, you can convert your basement without breaking the bank and without complication. You’ll also get help sticking to building regulations.

The structure of the space won’t change during the conversion so you won’t need to get planning permission, however, if you’re creating more bedrooms through the conversion, you will need to apply for planning permission.

How to Damp Proof a Cellar Conversion

As the water table rises and properties experience an increase in hydrostatic pressure, conventional basement waterproofing techniques such as cement-based renders become unreliable.

A method that is becoming more popular when it comes to waterproofing involves applying a polyethylene Cavity Drain Membrane. With the right substrate, the membrane can be applied directly. This will be vapour proof and waterproof. It also helps with insulation.

Before installing the membrane, it will be essential to install drainage. Later, insulation and plasterboard can be applied in front of the membrane. This helps create a dry area that can be lived in.

Enjoying Your Cellar Conversion

Once your waterproofing system has been installed, your cellar conversion will be ready to enjoy and should last as long as the property as long as the damp proofing has been installed by a suitable contractor and undergoes routine maintenance of your drainage channels.

Get in touch today to learn more about damp proofing a cellar conversion.

Can I claim on my Home Insurance to fix my damp?

by AtlantisDamp | Jan 13, 2021

Damp can affect any property of any age and there are many different types and causes of damp but ordinarily the costliest to resolve tend to be rising damp, followed by penetrating damp.

Whilst rising damp is a problem that can affect any property it is the least common form of dampness found in properties compared to the other types of damp (penetrating and condensation).

While rising damp can affect any property, it is more commonly found to affect older properties that do not have a damp-proof course in place or has one that has become damaged over time.

Unfortunately, the simple answer is that it is more than likely that your home insurance wont cover any damp proofing works you may require. The reason for this is that when you sign onto the insurance policy you normally have agreed that the property is already in good condition.

Having a damp survey carried out on the property is the best solution to sorting out the problem. This will help you understand the cause of the issue, to see what damp problems your property is affected by, and if any treatments will need to be carried out.

This information will also help when seeking insurance to help validate any claims that are accepted.

What is Rising Damp?

Rising damp occurs when groundwater creeps up the walls and/or through the floors of a building by a process known as ‘capillary action’. Building materials such as bricks, mortar and cement are porous, and so they can absorb and draw moisture upwards, just as a piece of tissue paper would if you dangled the end of it in a jar of water.

The property has no damp-proof course (DPC) inside its walls or damp-proof membrane (DPM) under its concrete floors. Alternatively, the DPC is place may be damaged – then the water is able to rise up above the foundations of the house and could eventually rear its ugly head in your ground-floor rooms.

Rising Damp in wall in Winsford, Cheshire

This form of damp can also be caused by the external ground level being raised – for example, if a flower bed is directly up against an exterior wall, or an area next to the building has been concreted over or paved. There may be insufficient height to the damp proof course or if the ground levels next to the walls becomes higher than the DPC, it can act as a ‘bridge’ for rising groundwater. This allows it to bypass the DPC. The situation can be made worse if there is inadequate drainage to carry rainwater away from the building.

Defective Ceiling cause by Penetrating Damp

What is Penetrating Damp?

Penetrating damp is a common issue encountered by property owners, which is more common in properties which have been built with solid wall construction. This is also becoming a common problem in properties which have been built with cavity wall construction where cavity wall insulation has been installed poorly or been introduced in walls which are not suitable for the insulation material. This can allow rain to pass through a cavity wall and cause decorative spoiling internally.

Penetrating damp can affect your properties ceilings, walls and roofs and it can happen at any level of a property. It is much more common in older properties as they are far more likely to have solid external walls. A newly built property with cavity walls provides properties with much more protection and as a result is less likely to suffer from penetrating damp.

Your damp walls are likely to be a result of property defects. These can be internal and external issues. Some of the most common external issues tend to be issues such as faulty downpipes, defective roofing, defective masonry and leaking gutters.

What Damage Can Rising and Penetrating Damp Cause to Your House?

Rising damp and penetrating damp cannot only provide you with an unsightly stain on the wall but if left untreated it can lead to significant structural damage. This can occur if the dampness affects the timbers of the property which can lead to wood rot and wood infestation problems. If you are looking to sell the property, then this is going to deter any potential buyers.

Rising damp and penetrating damp issues do not fix themselves, so the sooner you can get an expert opinion on the root cause of your damp issue, the better.

Claiming for Damage from Damp on Home Insurance

We’re often asked “does house insurance cover damp?”. The answer to this question is most likely to be ‘no’.

To claim costs for repairs at your house then the damage needs to be caused by one specific event, which rising and penetrating damp don’t tend to fall in to/. This is because damp is generally caused by gradual deterioration in the condition of the building over a number of years.

There are a few insurers who do offer specific cover for rising damp, however, it is always best to carry out regular property maintenance to ensure that there are no expensive costs for treating rising damp in the future.

How to fix your Damp Problem

If your home has signs of rising ad penetrating damp then it is best to contact a damp proofing specialist who is fully qualified.

Fixing the root cause of your damp problem is the only the true way of getting rid of the issue so as not incur expensive costs in the future, which cannot be claimed through home insurance. Contact us now to help ensure the damp problem in your property is properly diagnosed and that you pay a fair price.

Do my cavity wall ties need replacing?

by AtlantisDamp | Jan 13, 2021

Do I Have A Cavity Wall?

The first question that you need to ask yourself if the subject of cavity wall ties has cropped up in conversation, or crossed your mind, is whether or not your home actually has cavity walls. Generally speaking, there’s an incredibly easy way to tell. If your house was built before nineteen twenty, it’ll almost certainly have solid walls, and if it was built after that decade, it will have been built using cavity walls.

However, that question does rely on you knowing, or having a good idea about when your house was built. If you don’t, another sure-fire way to ascertain whether your house has either cavity or solid walls can be done with a quick examination of the exterior brickwork.

Bricks in cavity walls are always laid lengthways, while the brickwork in solid walls tends to have bricks that are laid both lengthways and side-on. Cavity walls were originally developed, and used, to prevent rainwater from seeping through a building and to help prevent occurrences of damp. The gaps between the two layers of brickwork in a cavity wall are also usually filled with an insulating material to make homes more energy-efficient and far cheaper to heat than buildings that have solid walls.

Do I Need A Wall Tie Survey?

While it’s a good idea to have a cavity wall tie survey done, there are visible signs that, if they manifest themselves in your home, you should make an appointment to have your home surveyed as soon as possible. The most obvious visible signs that you at least need a cavity wall survey, and will in all likelihood need to have the cavity home wall ties in your home replaced, are incredibly easy to spot and check.

The signs of cavity wall tie failure include bowing and bulging of the brickwork in the external walls, vertical and horizontal cracking in the external walls (which can be especially pronounced in the mortar), signs of separation and lifting between the roof lintels and the brickwork of the supporting walls, gaps appearing between window reveals and the brickwork and cracks appearing in the render and plasterwork of your homes interior walls.

Any, or a combination, of these visible indicators, are a sign that there is a problem with the cavity walls ties of your property, and that you should book a surveyor to make a complete and thorough assessment as soon as possible.

What Does A Surveyor Look For?

Surveyors will always check the same external signs that made you call them, and will usually spend some time with you talking about any and all of your property’s significant history before beginning their survey.

Once they have the relevant information that they need, a surveyor will use a metal detector to locate the positions of the wall ties (which are usually made from steel coated in a layer of galvanized zinc, although it isn’t uncommon to find wall ties made from iron in homes that we built before 1950) with your property.

After the ties have been located, the surveyor will drill a number of small inspection holes in the mortar close to where the ties are located. These holes are usually no bigger than twelve millimetres wide, which is just large enough to accommodate a borescope, which is basically a camera on the end of a long periscope.

The borescope will enable the surveyor to get a clear image of the wall ties, which he can then assess based on their condition. If the ties are still shiny and appear bright under the camera’s light, it means that they won’t need to be replaced and aren’t in any imminent danger of failing. However, if there is significant rust and signs of damage on the wall ties, the surveyor will then discuss with you, at length, what the next steps will entail.

Why Do Cavity Wall Ties Fail?

Cavity wall ties are usually made from steel, although iron was also used in a lot of buildings prior to nineteen fifty. Both, when subjected to damp conditions over an extended period of time are prone to corrosion, which can cause them to weaken and make them prone to failure.

Even wall ties that were layered with galvanized zine can fail as the layer of coating can break down over time and make the ties as susceptible to damage as uncoated wall ties are.

The location of your property can also be a contributing factor that leads to the failure of cavity wall ties. Properties and homes in coastal areas or which are close to the sea are more prone to wall tie failure, as there is an increased amount of salt in the air which can hasten and contribute to the process of corrosion and failure.

How Often Should Cavity Wall Ties Be Replaced?

Before nineteen eighty, all cavity wall ties were expected to last for the lifetime of the building in which they were fitted. However, since then it has become an established fact within the building industry that wall ties are now only expected to last between fifteen and twenty-five years.

If there are no prominent signs of failure, it is usually recommended that a cavity wall survey is carried out after twenty years and at regular five-year intervals after that if no significant signs of failure have materialized.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace Cavity Wall Ties?

The overall cost of having cavity wall ties replaced can vary according to the size, and difficulty of the job that needs to be undertaken. As a general thumb of rule, it costs between five and eight pounds to replace each cavity wall tie, and each square metre of wall usually contains two or three wall ties.

It should be noted, however, that in addition to replacing the wall ties, there may be other costs that need to be taken into account, such as the hire and set-up of scaffolding that might be needed for the cavity wall ties to be replaced. All of these factors will be taken into account whenever a quote for the replacement of cavity wall ties is requested and given.

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