Thousands of homeowners every year deal with damp in their houses. Damp can be caused by a number of different issues such as the age of the building and the effectiveness of its insulation. Excessive damp build-up in the home can cause serious long-term problems in houses and also poses serious health risks for residents. It’s important that you take measures to reduce damp in your home so we’ve put together a few common signs to look out for.
Wall stains
One of the most common signs of increased damp build-up in houses is the appearance of watermarks and stains on walls and floors. If your home lacks proper ventilation or is prone to damp, you may often see tide marks along the bottom of your walls above your skirting board. This occurs when water from the ground has evaporated. They are most common in bathrooms and kitchens but can occur anywhere in the house.
Peeling wallpaper
If you find that the wallpaper in some of your rooms is beginning to peel away from the wall, you most likely have a damp problem. The build-up of excess moister along walls often rehydrates dried wallpaper glue, causing the paper to lose its grip and come away from the wall. This often occurs in the corner of rooms where the seams of wallpaper join so be sure to check behind furniture.
Crumbling skirting board
When damp gets really bad, the build-up of moisture can affect wooden fixtures around the home in addition to wallpaper. Skirting boards are often the first things to fall victim to damp as they are closer to the floor. As the damp infects them, the wood becomes soft and decayed. Long-term exposer can cause the wood to rot and require expensive repairs or replacements. If you notice that your skirting boards are cracked or crumbling, you may have a more serious damp problem that you thought.
Mould
When it comes to damp, mould is often one of the first signs to spring up around the home. If you notice mould on your walls, it can be a good opportunity to test for damp before it gets worse. Clean away the mould with bleach and you start to notice it come back regularly, you most likely have a damp problem. If mould is the only sign, it usually means you can nip the issue in the bud before it causes further damage to your home.