Author: Lisa Kinghorn

If you have a damp problem in your home, the first thing you’ll need to do is locate the source of the water ingress.

You might have a damp patch on your wall or a musty smell from the black mould that’s attracted to the damp inside your house.

Whatever the source of your damp problem, you’ll need to get it fixed quickly. Whether that’s fixing the roof tiles, repairing a broken window frame or fitting the Frank Schrijver System of Damp Control, you’ll want the peace of mind that your home is dry and safe.

Mouldy interiors are not just unsightly but black mould is a health hazard too, especially for babies, pregnant women and the elderly. If you have a respiratory problem then the spores of the fungi Stachybotrys chartarum can make your breathing issues worse. If you didn’t have an underlying problem then black mould could actually cause it.

Even if you don’t have those mouldy black spots around your window frames and skirting boards, damp can be a problem in other ways.

Damp patches on walls are unsightly and can damage your plaster work or wallpaper. Repairing such things is costly.

Environmentally-Friendly Damp Proofing

Frank Schrijver’s system of Dutch Damp Control is a natural solution to damp problems in the home.

Rather than use chemical injection methods to replace your damp proof course, synthetic rods drilled all the way into your walls or man-made potentially toxic coatings, our method of damp control is natural and environmentally-friendly.

The Schrijver solution is applied via the exterior walls of your property so you don’t need to waste money on redecorating, whether that’s costly plasterwork or wallpapering your walls.

Next we insert the patented Schrijver elements into your exterior walls, secure them in place and then let nature take its course. Dry air from outside causes a “cold bridge” in the element and removes moisture from your walls, thus controlling your damp problem and proofing your home. You can see

As well as being good for the environment, the Schrijver System need not cost the earth in financial terms either. Contact our team of Damp Specialists on 01689 800101 and, if you’re the homeowner, ask for a free damp inspection.

Your gorgeous patterned wallpaper, your beautifully painted wall – what’s that, is that a damp patch on the wall?

It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to find something wrong in their property that makes them stop in their tracks. And the damp patch on the interior wall is a sure sign that something’s not right in your home.

There are a number of reasons why this is occurring – is there a loose, cracked or missing tile on the roof? That could be letting water in.

Is your property’s guttering in good condition? If your gutters are broken or blocked, again, this could be causing the water ingress.

Or how about the plumbing, is it in good condition? Maybe a broken or damaged pipe could be leaking, causing internal leakage?

Whatever the cause, it’s important that you discover the source of the damp problem and have it fixed as soon as possible.

The effects of not fixing the issue can lead to the deterioration of brickwork, crumbling plasterwork, can cause beams and floors to rot and damage interior walls, as the damp patch on the interior wall would indicate.

New Build or Old Building?

What is important to understand in the hunt for the cause of your damp problem is the difference between old and new builds.

Old buildings, predating 1875, were not required to have the damp-proof course installed. However, the filthy urban living conditions of the Victorian age prompted the Public Health Act 1875 which aimed to improve health through better residential construction.

The damp proof course was made compulsory after the 1875 act.

Even so, the DPC was only made of slate or lead and it wasn’t until the latter years of the 20th century that more robust materials were used such as polythene or bitumen-polymers.

In addition, older buildings were not designed for the types of loft insulation that are prevalent today and so, whilst staying warm with layers of deep insulation, they can be prone to “sweating” and so condensation can be a problem.

Double-glazing doesn’t help either, as the new PVC windows and frames are designed to make your home more airtight.

So, older buildings in particular need to be able to breathe.

Rising Damp or Penetrating Damp?

If the damp patches on your walls come from the ground up, then there’s a very good chance that you have rising damp. The occurrence of rising damp is a classic sign of problems with the damp proof course.

Penetrating damp patches on interior walls will be down to other causes such as that leaking roof, the problem with your gutters or the leaky plumbing.

To deal with each issue you should first ensure your property is in good condition. Fix those leaks, repair the roof, mend the plumbing. Make external drainage is good too so that the earth around your property is not sodden.

If the problem still persists then you may have a condensation problem. You need to ventilate your property as best you can, installing extractor fans, not drying your clothes on the radiator etc. See our article on how to reduce condensation in your home.

If you’ve exhausted all these possibilities and you’ve still got a damp patch on your interior wall, then it is well worth considering The Schrijver System of damp control.

The Schrijver System

Our system is a green, environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional methods of damp proofing.

The Schrijver System is installed with no mess, no fuss and doesn’t require you to redecorate.

By installing our patented elements in your walls, dry air is drawn in and, through natural ventilation, the humid air is removed from your property.

So, no more damp patches on your interior walls.

To arrange for an inspection of your property by one of our damp specialists, call 01689 800101 or complete our easy contact form.

Mould is a kind of fungus that develops from airborne spores. It can grow anywhere in homes from walls, pipes and ceilings through to carpets, clothing and paper with mildew and black mould the telltale signs. Not only can this impact the air quality in your home, it can have a detrimental effect on health too. The young, the elderly and those with respiratory issues are particularly at risk. We take a look at mould prevention and what you can do to help ensure it doesn’t develop in your home.

Find and eliminate moisture sources

Mould grows wherever there is moisture with any signs of damp a result of condensation and rising or penetrating damp. Initially, you should do an audit of your property to identify any problem areas. You could also check your home’s humidity level with a hygrometer.

Ventilate the bathroom…

Moisture builds up quickly in the bathroom so it’s important it’s sufficiently ventilated. If it’s possible, keep the window ajar and the door open. Moisture can develop in the air but also on the walls too so where possible wipe down the walls to lessen the risk of mildew appearing.

…and the kitchen

Similarly, your kitchen is another room at risk whether you’re boiling the kettle or cooking a meal. Make sure you use your extractor fan if you have one. If you don’t, keep the kitchen door closed to contain the moisture and open a window afterwards. This will help stop condensation settling on the wall and ceiling.

Clean up spillages

It doesn’t take long for mould to develop on wet work surfaces or floors so make sure any spillages are cleaned up swiftly.

Check your appliances

Kitchen appliances like fridges all have drip trays and these need to be checked regularly to ensure they’re not leaking, spilling or collecting mould.

Don’t overfill bedrooms

Bedroom wardrobes can be a breeding ground for black mould as it prevents air from circulating. Likewise, make sure there is space around your bedroom furniture and it’s not leaning up against an external wall.

Dry clothes outside where possible

Drying your clothes on a radiator is another way to create condensation in the home. Of course hanging clothes outside isn’t an option in the winter months so instead keep these aired in a well-ventilated room. Ideally with the window open. If you’re using a tumble dryer, make sure the room is vented correctly so that the moisture is outside your home. Don’t leave wet clothes lying around either as mould can spread quickly.

Check your houseplants

Mould loves house plants and the moist soil provides a great breeding ground. Make sure you keep the soil clean and add an anti-fungal to it that acts as a deterrent.

Keep ground water away from your home

As well as checking the inside of your home, you should also do an audit of the outside. Check there is no ground water collecting around the brickwork of your home.

Clear guttering

Leaking guttering and roofs can be causes of mould too. Have these checked and inspected for damage on a regular basis and keep an eye out for stains inside that can be a sign there is a leak outside.

If you’re looking for a sure fire way to prevent mould, however, damp control specialists Schrijver has a chemical-free damp treatment that’s eco-friendly. The Schrijver System reduces moisture from external, rather than interior, walls and it’s guaranteed for life. All the work is undertaken from outside your property as the system uses natural airflow to reduce moisture levels in the external brickwork. This results in lower humidity levels and continuous protection from damp.

If you’re experiencing damp in your home, it’s a lot more common than you think. Even in buildings that are known to be dry, you might be surprised to know that these walls can hold a serious amount of water in the materials they’re made from. A lot of the time this doesn’t cause any hassle, however, if damp does take hold, it can cause a lot of problems. Both from an aesthetic point of view and also becoming hazardous to your health.

Damp can be easily spotted in your home. There are certainly several signs to look out for. First of all, you may have noticed a musty smell. You might have found wet patches on your walls, ceilings and floors. Or possibly the paint has blistered. Or your walls are bulging. You might see a white substance on your brickwork. And certainly, if you’ve spotted black mould on any surfaces or fabrics like your curtains, this will give you a definite indication that you’ve got damp that needs treating.

So if this is the case in your home, it’s time to tackle the damp and find out exactly where it’s coming from. Here are some possible causes that could be contributing to your problem:

Condensation

You may find that this happens more regularly in autumn, winter and spring. It’s actually caused by poor ventilation and/or a lack of heating. So kitchens, utility rooms or humid bathrooms can be prime examples if there’s nowhere for the humidity to escape from.

Condensation occurs when the moisture produced by cooking, cleaning, breathing and washing can’t be dispersed from the property due to a lack of adequate ventilation. Moisture is retained in the atmosphere until the air temperature cools. And it’s at this point the airborne moisture condenses onto the wall surfaces, which can result in unsightly mould growth in your home.

Traditionally, properties used to be less ‘airtight’ and were difficult to heat. However, draughts would dilute the high humidity so condensation was less likely to happen. Unfortunately, our modern lifestyles have contributed to the problem in lots of ways. Smaller rooms and reduced air leakage of modern homes, plus the fact that many properties remain empty during the daytime and energy saving measures such as reduced ventilation and double-glazing, all combine to provide the perfect environment for condensation to rear its head.

And as warm, moist air from kitchens and bathrooms travels to colder rooms, such as bedrooms, it then forms condensation on cold unventilated surfaces, such as external walls, within wardrobes and behind furniture etc.

Construction moisture

Have you had building work completed in your home recently? Concrete, plaster and mortar can hold a lot of water and take a long time to dry out. And if your builder hasn’t put proper protection in place for when it rains, you may find that water can get in and cause damp.

Leaking pipes and roofs

When it comes to your roof or your pipes, even the smallest leak can create a major problem. And it’s not always at the site of the leak. You might find that it can cause damp problems further away. And don’t forget your gutters too. They can easily become blocked, with pools of water unable to escape. Any entry of water will, at some point, create a problem with moisture which will then cause water damage to your home. Which is why it’s very important to keep your property in a dry and waterproof condition and adequately maintained.

Rain penetration

If you’ve got problems with your brickwork or rendering, it can become a prime target for major damp issues. Any broken or missing pointing, cracked or missing rendering, frostbites to the brickwork etc. will cause a collection of rain water and ultimately you’ll soon be looking at a damp problem.

Rising damp

More than just the name of a TV programme, rising damp can cause real problems in your home. This is where water seeps in from the wet ground. You can easily spot it by the horizontal tidemark that can appear on your wall. This will happen in old properties built without the original damp proof course or in any property where the original damp proof course is failing. However, the old horizontal slate damp proof courses can also break during the property movements – all likely to be caused by passing time, increased traffic and subsidence.

There are other causes of damp that can easily happen in your home from spillages and instances where water simply can’t get away. Don’t let it become an issue in your home. Get in touch with the team here at Schrijver and we can help your home become a damp-free zone. All using our fuss-free and eco-friendly damp control system.