When it comes to diagnosing damp problems within your home, achieving an accurate diagnosis is essential to save on costly and unnecessary work.
What to expect from our damp survey?
One of our highly trained survey team will visit your property at a pre-arranged time. They will conduct a comprehensive Damp Survey using an array of digital instruments. From this analysis, they will identify the cause of any damp found, the extent of it, any damage it is to your property, and advise you any solutions.
We understand the critical importance of correctly identifying the root cause of damp issues to resolve them. With years of experience in damp testing, you can trust us to provide the right solution for your specific problem.
Condensation in the loft or roof space is typically from late autumn through early spring, with the period being from November to February. Sometimes referred to as roof sweating, it can manifest in a very conspicuous manner, with small droplets of moisture forming on the underside of the roof undersarking (, membrane, timber), slates, or tiles. These issues are often noticed in the lead-up to Christmas, as people search through the attic space for decorations, encountering Christmas tree full of dead spiders. The small beads of water can vary in size and quantity, from large beads covering the underside of the roof to small sporadic.
Warm, moist air from everyday activities such as cooking, showering, and drying clothes rises and can become trapped in a loft space that is either unventilated or cannot ventilate at a sufficient rate. This air then condenses on cold spots inside the loft, reverting to its liquid state and forming small or large drops of water on cold surfaces depending on the severity of the problem.
These days, roof space condensation has become more of an issue due to the insulation of cavity walls, double glazing, and external wall insulation schemes applied to older properties that were not designed with modern insulation levels in mind. Often, this insulation or additional insulation creates a tipping point within the home. In the rush to insulate and eliminate cold spots, little thought is given to where the moisture created within the home is supposed to go. Warm, moist air rises, and the final is often the roof space.
Damp leads to the build up of Mould produces secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins, which can be harmful to humans and animals if ingested or inhaled.
Determining the seriousness of damp involves identifying key indicators. Severe damp often present as extensive mould growth, peeling paint, wallpaper damage, and a musty odor If neglected, damp can result in structural damage and health problems. During our Free Comprehensive Survey, our experienced surveyors will evaluate the severity of the damp and provide you with detailed report on the condition of your home.
A multitude of causes lead to damp, each necessitating a tailored solution. To avoid unnecessary and costly work, it imperative to pinpoint the exact cause the damp issue. We offer a comprehensive damp survey to diagnose the exact problem. Our experts may recommend solutions such as improving ventilation, repairing leaks, installing damp-proof membranes, or applying specialist treatments to affected areas.
Eliminating dampness in your home requires addressing the underlying cause. Common include:
Improving Ventilation: Ensuring your home is-ventilated to moisture levels.
Repairing Leaks: Fixing any leaks in your roof,, or plumbing
Damp-Proofing: Applying damp-proof or treatments to prevent moisture ingress.
We customize our approach to your specific needs, ensuring the most effective treatment recommendations for your home.
Damp can cause a of, including:
Structural Damage: Prolonged damp weaken walls and floors, leading to costly repairs.
Health Issues: Damp environments can exacerbate respiratory problems allergies, and asthma.
Aesthetic Damage: Mold growth, peeling paint, and damaged wallpaper can the appearance of your home.
Unpleasant Odors: Persistent damp leads to musty smells that hard to eliminate.
Trust in Our Expertise
Loft Inspectors is dedicated to diagnosing damp accurately ensuring that the proposed solution is precisely tailored to your unique situation.
Loft Inspectors is dedicated to diagnosing damp accurately ensuring that the proposed solution is precisely tailored to your unique situation.
When timber comes into contact with damp conditions, rot and beetle infestation can occur – beetle can occur with only the slightest moisture content. Where timbers form structural elements of your property, such as roof timbers, floor joists, and timber lintels, it is important to act quickly when a is found or suspected. Beet infestation and rot can cause timbers to become weak and structurally unsound, sometimes in a relatively short space of time. The quicker a defect is identified, the easier and cheaper the problem will be to cure.
The following types of rot and beetle infestation are the most common; however, there are many more which can be identified by a timber surveyor. characteristics of different types of rot and beetle infestation can be very similar in some cases; however, the severity and treatment do differ. All rot and beetle infestation can cause timber to become structurally unsound and should be investigated as soon as it becomes apparent.
Dry rot can cause extensive damage within a property if left untreated. Spores are carried in the air until they reach a suitable environment for growth. Dry rot is usually found in timbers in contact with damp brickwork and suitable temperatures. It can grow through masonry and plaster to reach new timber, its food. Dry rot weakens and brittles the timber, causing deep cracks and making it easily breakable. It forms a white fungus (mycel) and white strands over the timbers and masonry.
Wet rot is found in timbers exposed to damp conditions; however, it does not spread like dry rot. The both the timber and the fungus (mycel) is similar to that of dry rot. Any timber in an area where there has been a leak is likely to be affected by wet rot
Weevil, often referred to as woodworm, is typically found in timbers affected by wet rot, as the conditions are ideal due to preferred temperature and moisture content for both wet rot and woodworm to thrive. Woodworm creates jagged markings where they tunnel along the grain of the timber and break the surface. When heavily infested, there will usually be large amounts of dust, which is fine but feels gritty between the fingers. This is mistaken for the common furniture beetle.
The common furniture beetle attacks most hardwood timbers, similar to woodworm, and prefers damp timber although it be found in areas with less moisture content. It is found in timbers and floorboards where there is some damp present. The furniture beetle creates emergence holes on surface of the timber, approximately1-2mm in diameter, and the bore dust resembles that ofworm but appears to be pellet-shaped (lemon-shaped). The beetle itself is a small hard-backed beetle that can fly and may be found in the property, usually visible damp areas such as bathrooms and window sills.
With any beetle infestation, the main outbreak can be beneath the timber, and great care should be taken when walking on infested timbers as they can easily collapse when heavily infested. Beetle infestations will also attack structural timbers.
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