If not properly cared for and maintained, your home may be susceptible to water ingress. Not only is water ingress unsightly but it can instigate real problems when it comes down to the physical strength of your home. Similarly, it can be detrimental to your family’s health if not dealt with in a timely fashion. Both dry and wet rot can begin to fester due to water ingress. Therefore, to swiftly resolve the issue, you will need to identify the site of the issue and take immediate action.
Crevices In Walls
Ultimately, exterior breaks and crevices in walls act as a gateway for water to enter your property. The faster that you identify and mend the crack, the better the outcome will be. Do not ignore even the tiniest of hairline fractures as they nearly always widen and become a cause for concern. Typically, crevices will occur due to the continuous movement of window and door frames, or alternatively will be because the frames were not correctly sealed. Similarly, vibrations caused by vehicles and inadequate ground quality can subject your property to cracks. Do not delay investigating the source of cracks when they begin to form as they may be indicative of a more severe issue.
Dripping Chimneys or Roofs
Inadequate drainage, missing tiles, and damaged rafters are also culprits of allowing rainwater into buildings. Despite this, the area of visible damp might not be the source of leakage since water has the capacity to travel along structures. Usually, water pools away from its original source of leakage on the wall borders and about light fixtures. Additionally, the connecting point of the chimney breast and roof may be weakly sealed like windows and doors. Once again, this creates a passage that invites water to leak into the attic. As well as this, the chimney pots might not have cowls, or the cowls could be broken which lets water drip through the chimney.
Corroded Pointing
Poor-quality or deteriorated cement and mortar is also liable for allowing water into the home. If water does enter your property in this way, it is likely to freeze and defrost which results in crevices in the wall. If you are able to remove lumps of mortar with your hands or rub it away using a butter knife, your property should be repointed. Leaving this untreated could be detrimental to your home’s damp protection.
Clogged or Broken Plumbing or Gutters
The purpose of guttering and pipes is to redirect water through or away from a building; if they cannot do this job, the house will be more vulnerable to water ingress. Unclogging gutters is a simple process, wherein the debris can just be removed, whilst fractured guttering is easily and cheaply replaced. Conversely, plumbing has the potential to be more complex as the damage or blockage could require disturbing building work to resolve. This is neither cost nor time efficient.
Water Ingress Treatments
The first step is for a professional to verify the site and urgency of your water ingress problem, before suggesting a plan of treatment. Several aspects will be evaluated, including budgets and the type of property that requires treatment. Next, treatment will be executed, and the site of the issue will be attacked. After this, they will deal with any residue of rot and propose an ongoing water ingress treatment programme. To finish, they will finalise the course of treatment and clean the property.
Conclusion
To conclude, water ingress could present serious problems for you and your home, so you need to act fast. When identified promptly, the structure of the property is less vulnerable, and you are less susceptible to health complications that are caused by mould.
