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A 'breathing building'. This late 19th century terrace accepts and releases penetrating moisture to achieve a 'safe' moisture equilibrium in its external walling. |
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Dense render prevents rain penetration very effectively, but diverts rainwater to potentially vulnerable detailing. Such a finish makes it difficult for a wet wall to dry out. Any cracking to the rendering, always likely in a rigid material stressed by even the smallest amount of differential movement, creates a focal point where damp penetration can occur. |
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High moisture levels where staircase timbers are in contact with a saturated partition wall. The cause of dampness was first thought to be the lack of a tile splash-back and mastic joint behind the kitchen sink unit on the reverse of the partition wall. The actual cause was water leaking from burst water main adjacent to the property, which saturated the solid kitchen floor under the linoleum floor covering. |
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High moisture levels where staircase timbers are in contact with a saturated partition wall. The cause of dampness was first thought to be the lack of a tile splash-back and mastic joint behind the kitchen sink unit on the reverse of the partition wall. The actual cause was water leaking from burst water main adjacent to the property, which saturated the solid kitchen floor under the linoleum floor covering. |
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Continuing leakage from overflow pipes at these unoccupied flat conversions caused damage that required thousands of pounds of remedial works to repair or replace rotted timber windows, damaged timber floorboards, joist ends, skirting boards and ceilings, and to replace plaster and redecorate. Landlords and building owners should consider as far as practicable reducing stored water within empty dwellings, ideally draining water tanks and turning off water isolation valves. Electronic warning devices can remotely alert owners to a problem. |
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Deterioration of the paintwork, cast-iron balustrade and metal rainwater pipes is common in marine residences exposed to the high chloride content, resulting from the presence of sea water. Wind-blown rain from prevailing winds presents huge challenges for the maintenance and protection of buildings. Some of the earliest examples of cavity walls can be found in coastal towns as a defence against water penetration into the habitable space. |
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External solid wall of an early Victorian property where a series of retrofit clay or ceramic tubes have been inserted into the wall in an attempt to cure internal dampness. The theory is that the porous tubes will dissipate moisture in the wall but experience suggests this is not effective in practice. In any event the inserted tubes have been placed at height above the internal floor level so internal timbers remain exposed to dampness and still vulnerable. |
