Author: Lisa Kinghorn

During the autumn and winter months, hanging your laundry outside isn’t always practical.

It doesn’t get light until later in the morning and the sun goes down much earlier. On the shortest winter’s day the sun rises after 8am and sets before 4pm. That’s less than 8 hours of daylight.

On a working day this means hanging out your washing and retrieving it in the dark. What’s more, autumn and winter days are also much colder and wetter. These aren’t exactly the right conditions for having that shirt ready for work tomorrow.

So, what’s the alternative?

Drying your Clothes Indoors

If you can’t accomplish it outdoors then you’ll have to dry your clothes indoors.

At first it might seem like a good idea. You can’t dry them outside, so dry them inside. It’s drier, it’s warmer and it’s cheaper and more environmentally-friendly than switching on the tumble drier.

But think again.

Wet clothes in the home can increase the damp in your property by around 30%. By increasing the moisture levels in your home you’ll be adding to your damp problem.

You could also be creating the perfect environment for black mould. It is well known that the spores of stachybotrys chartarum can be a serious health hazard, particularly for children, pregnant women and the elderly.

As well as posing a health risk, you’ll have increased condensation in your home. You’ll have damp patches on your walls, condensation on your windows and black mould on your window frames.

And yet, despite all these negatives, over 80% of people in the UK still dry their clothes indoors. A single load of clothes can contain as much as 2 litres of water, so that’s a lot of damp!

Reducing the Moisture in Your Home

If you absolutely must dry your clothes indoors, there are a number of things you can do to mitigate the risks of having condensation.

• Open a window. This is the easiest thing you can do to let out the extra moisture. Open a single window in the room where you are drying your clothes and let the natural ventilation do its job.
• Buy yourself a dehumidifier. These can be relatively cheap compared to a tumble dryer and will draw the water droplets from the air. You will still have to empty the water collector.
• Get a tumble dryer. It will cost you a lot more than simply opening a window and is more expensive than a dehumidifier but at least you’ll be sending all that extra moisture outside. And your clothers will be drier quicker too.
• Install extractor fans. Whilst relatively cheap to buy, an extractor fan kit will need to be fitted by an expert. Usually installed in the kitchen, bathroom or a cloakroom (downstairs toilet), turn on your extractor fan whilst you’re drying your load.

So, with all these potential options, there should be something you can do to avoid drying your clothes at home in a manner that will cause damp in your home.

If you are still having damp problems then it might well be worth giving us a call so that one of our experts can conduct a damp survey.

At Frank Schrijver we are damp experts and the Schrijver system of damp control is a green alternative to chemical-heavy methods of damp proofing.

Give us a call on 01689 800101 or drop us an email at info@damp.co.uk

So you’ve identified that you have damp in your property. Perhaps you’ve found damp patches on a wall inside your home. Or maybe you’ve got blistering paint. Damp tends to happen when water from the outside manages to get into a building structure, but there are several ways you can actually treat damp to get rid of this problem. And certainly, if you leave damp without any treatment, there’s a high chance that you can lead to a rapid damage to the appearance and structure of your home in addition to any health hazards that may also be experienced.

The traditional route of damp proofing could be seen as an answer to your problem. It acts as a long-term barrier as a preventative before damp truly takes hold. Most properties have a damp proof course built into the walls just above ground level – in order to prevent damp from happening. Back in 1875 the Public Health Act was set up to make sure that all properties had some form of damp course built in, however, you might be aware that subsidence can happen and soon your walls can deteriorate if damp gets to them.

Retrospective fitting of a damp proof course is often done during rebuilding. However, it can cause major structural problems, particularly if the building is historic. It’s also unsuitable for walls that are randomly coursed. Not only that, it can cause deterioration of masonry underneath the damp course.

Damp proofing isn’t a permanent cure however. So you’re likely to have to find alternative solutions for the regular upkeep of your walls, which can be costly – in addition to finding the time to maintain.

If you were to choose a chemical option, this would involve injecting chemical solutions into the holes at the bottom of the wall in the hope of creating a waterproof barrier. Yet again, this may not be suitable for older buildings. If you’re thinking of using this method, you’ll find that injecting holes won’t be possible in granite or flint. It can also be difficult to create a substantial barrier in rubble walls with voids.

You could also opt for a tanking solution for penetrating damp. This is where a liquid chemical coating can be added to the wet walls. Or alternatively, a chemical injection where a concentrated solution is injected into holes in the affected wall. You would still need to re-plaster once the damp proofing has been completed.

But there are alternatives that can successfully treat the symptoms and the causes of damp without the need for chemicals. And more cost-effective too. The Schrijver System brings you a totally green alternative. With a lower installation cost and no need for redecoration, it also comes with a lifetime guarantee for total reassurance. No harsh chemicals are needed.

In a nutshell, it uses natural ventilation or airflow to prevent any damp from happening in your home. By simply inserting small hand-made elements into your outside walls just above skirting board level, dry air is able to easily flow from the outside into the elements. By doing this, it creates a drop in temperature so that any moisture is collected by the element. So you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll have dry wall protection without having a detrimental effect on the environment or the health of anyone in your home.

The traditional method of treating damp is chemical injection which is usually done by creating a barrier between the damp and the house, however, it doesn’t address the root cause and is not a permanent solution.

Penetrating damp occurs when water from outside your home leaks inside the property. The cause could be small cracks in a wall, leaky pipes or blocked guttering with flashing around a chimney stack, damaged pointing or poorly fitted windows other sources. Continually being on the lookout for any signs will help you identify issues quickly:

• Test moisture levels with an electronic moisture meter
• Check downpipes are clear and household appliances are not leaking regularly
• Installation is carried out from the outside of your home only, not inside
• More cost effective than traditional damp treatments that require replastering and redecorating
• Look for water coming into the loft from the roof
• Make sure there are no cracks in your rendering
• Always keep your damp-proof courses clear

How to identify penetrating damp

Water leaking into a property will most likely cause damp but how can you tell it’s penetrating damp? Here are a few of the signs:

• Damp patches on walls, ceilings and floors – including upper floors (which rising damp would not reach)
• Musty smell and signs of mildew or mould
• Drips or puddles of water
• Damaged plaster – blistering or disintegrating
• Rotting skirting boards or floor timbers
• Damp patches that worsen after heavy or wind driven rain
• Decay in exposed brickwork or timber

How to fix damp and damp proof your home

The cause of damp could be as simple as a blocked gutter through to the more complex issues such as a leaking pipe behind a wall. Damp is treated by eradicating the source of moisture at its source – usually done by placing a barrier between the damp and the house. Damp proofing specialists Schrijver take it one step further by removing damp. Their Schrijver System providing a permanent chemical-free alternative:

• Long-term natural ventilation solution that is eco-friendly
• Only damp treatment that successfully removes moisture and guaranteed for life
• Damp proofing undertaken outside your home not inside
• More cost effective than damp treatments that require plastering/decorating
• No harmful chemicals used – only natural processes
• Damp proofing utilises natural airflow to reduce moisture levels
• Results in lower humidity level and continuous damp proofing protection

Mould problems in your home should be dealt with as soon as possible. Black mould is not just unsightly but is a serious potential health risk!

Mould produces substances that can cause an allergic reaction (allergens) and these increase the risk of respiratory infections, asthma and/or allergies. Babies & children, the elderly and sufferers of asthma and eczema are most at risk. But just how do you deal with mould problems in your home?

• The first course of action required is to directly tackle the mould, which means thoroughly cleaning the affected area. Harsh chemicals or disinfectants are not necessary. Simply wash the walls and surfaces with soapy water. Detergents such as washing up liquid or hand laundry powder will do the job just fine.
• If you are concerned that washing up liquid or mild detergents may not be strong enough then feel free to use a specialist mould removal spray. Just make sure that you follow the instructions on the container. Make sure you keep doors closed as the mould spores can become airborne once you start cleaning.
• If the mould or mildew has contaminated clothes or soft furnishings they should be removed and cleaned. You may have to consider replacing items such mattresses or soft furniture that has been badly contaminated.
• Wipe down walls and surfaces with your soapy water or your specialist mould removal product. Use a sponge or rag then dry off with another disposable cloth. Dispose of the cleaning and drying rags in a plastic bag to avoid further contamination.
• After removing all visible mould, vacuum clean the affected area, preferably use a machine fitted with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter which will capture the spores that will inevitably be in the room. During and after the cleaning process keep the area well ventilated, open the windows and allow all surfaces and walls to dry thoroughly.

Repeat this process for every room you have that has mould and be sure to throw away your disposable cloths each time so as not to spread the mould.

Once you are happy that there is no re-occurrence, you can apply anti-mildew paint on any affected walls.

Now for the Mould Prevention

Now that you have tackled the mould you need to turn your attention to stop it from returning. Mould thrives in a damp and humid environment and there are a number of causes of excessive humidityin a room or building that need to be considered but essentially they fall into two categories.

• Firstly, is there a build up of condensation? Most of these can be tackled and resolved quite simply. See our article about ways to reduce condensation in your property. Short-term mould prevention can be achieved with an electric dehumidifier which you can purchase for a reasonable price from a local DIY store.
• Secondly, is there an underlying issue of rising or penetrating damp?
  If rising damp is the cause of your mould problem then all of the above will help deal with the symptoms but you will need some expert help with the underlying rising damp problem.

Excessive moisture in your walls can also have a number of causes but these are best assessed by a Schrijver Damp Specialist who can evaluate and recommend appropriate action. The Schrijver System is designed to help your walls to breath and so dissipate moisture in a natural way, ventilating and damp proofing walls. For more information, see how the Dutch Damp Proofing System works.

The Schrijver System reduces moisture from external walls and is guaranteed for life. No harmful chemicals are involved, just natural airflow processes that reduce moisture levels in the external brickwork. The work is undertaken from outside the property not inside and is more cost effective than traditional damp proofing methods, saving money on costly redecorating and replastering.

For a healthier and more comfortable house deal with mould problems in your home right away and for further advice get in touch with a helpful Schrijver Specialist, call  01689 800101