FAQ

Specialist services in Portsmouth

What is condensation?

Condensation occurs when warm damp air comes into contact with cooler air or a colder surface. All air contains water vapour in varying quantities and its capacity to do so is related to its temperature - warm air holds more moisture than cold air. When moist air comes into contact with either colder air or a colder surface, the air is unable to retain the same amount of moisture and the water is released to form condensation. This excess moisture on cool surfaces such as walls, windowsills and ceilings often leads to problems such as black mould.

Causes of condensation:
  • Breathing (asleep) 0.3 litres
  • Breathing (awake) 0.85 litres
  • Cooking 3 litres
  • Personal washing 1.0 litres
  • Washing and drying clothes 5.5 litres
  • Heating - especially paraffin and fuel-less gas heaters
Moisture can also be drawn from the structure of the building into the internal air; from below the floor or through the walls/ceilings
The actions that cause condensation are often essential to everyday living and therefore unavoidable, however, simple lifestyle changes and improved air ventilation can minimise the impact condensation has on a property.

Prevention of condensation:

Ventilation is key

If you are noticing condensation symptoms, such as water collecting on windows, then the hints and tips below will keep condensation at bay:
  • Keep your property well ventilated by opening your windows on a daily basis to allow moist air to escape.
  • If using the kitchen or bathroom, keep the door closed and window open where possible.
  • Try to keep at least a small gap between walls and furniture, particularly against ‘cold walls'.
  • Allow ventilation of any cupboards to keep air-flow moving.
  • Always dry clothes outside. If this is not possible, put them in an enclosed room with the window open.
  • If using a tumble dryer, make sure the vent pipe runs outside your property or out a window. 
  •  While cooking, try to cover all pots and pans and avoid leaving anything on the boil for too long.
  •  Check to make sure airways within your property are not blocked, such as air bricks or chimneys.
  • Try to keep heating levels within your property at a constant temperature, especially in the winter.
  • If your condensation problem has progressed to an extreme black mould problem, you may need to consider a more proactive approach to combating condensation such as an air ventilation unit.
  • There are many black spot mould removers on the market this can be sprayed on and wiped off easily.
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What is dry rot?  

In a nutshell, dry rot is a wood-destroying fungus that digests parts of the wood which give the timber strength and its structural integrity. 

It is a fungus that eats away at the cellulose component within woodturning it brown and ultimately reducing the timber to a dry and crumbly state with noticeable cuboidal fractures.
It is caused when dampness combined with a lack of ventilation provides the ideal conditions for fungal attack. It can affect all types of property, historic or modern and can grow within the cracks and cavities in the walls feeding off debris and wood behind the plaster.

The main difference is that dry rot requires less moisture to germinate and grow than wet rot. It also is more likely to spread over a much greater area travelling through the capillaries between the stone/brick and their mortar joints to affect adjoining areas/properties.
Dry rot spores if they are given sufficient moisture will germinate and form large fluffy cotton wool like fungus. This fungus will eventually grow into a fruiting body that will release more spores, starting the whole dry rot lifecycle all over again.

Because dry rot is such a serious problem, it is important to treat the issue as soon as possible. Without treating the dry rot, it will live and grow, feeding off, and eventually destroying, the timbers in your property this process will obviously have serious consequences to the structural integrity of the property.
If you do suspect dry rot and you are unsure what to do about it then do not delay in speaking to a dry rot specialist and organise a free dry rot property survey.

What is penetrating damp?

Otherwise known as lateral damp, penetrating damp the end result of water successfully penetrating from the outside of a building and into your property.

Unlike rising damp, penetrating damp can happen at any level within the property including roofs, ceilings, and walls.
It is a very common problem found within older properties that have solid walls. Newer properties tend to have much more protection from penetrating damp through the use of cavity walls and are therefore less likely to suffer from this type of damp problem.

Penetrating damp is most commonly caused through leaky pipes and poorly maintained brickwork, which over time can become damaged or need re-pointing. Deterioration of mortar joints and water management systems are also a typical cause of penetrating damp.

Any excess moisture that gets into the property will usually lead to damp problems, but how can you tell if it is penetrating damp you are dealing with?

Here are some telltale signs that point to a penetrating damp problem:
  • Damaged plaster
  • Damp patches on walls that do not dry out 
  • Black mould growth
  • Musty damp smell
  • Damaged timber
  • Leaky roof
On days where the rain is pouring down, you may notice watermarks or damp patches on your walls getting bigger.
The damage caused by penetrating damp can vary depending on how long and how much water has managed to penetrate through to your property.
Penetrating damp can lead to black mould growth which carries a host of problems ranging from affecting your personal possessions, home decor, and even your health.
In cases where penetrating damp affects the timber in a property wet rot, or more severe dry rot, can occur.

What is rising damp? 

This is one of the most common questions we are asked at Hampshire Preservation services. In short, rising damp in buildings occurs when water from the ground rises up through the bricks and mortar of a building by capillary action. In simple terms, the water rises up the porous wall of a building in the same way water is soaked up by a sponge in a sink.

What is rising damp – why it happens?

Any masonry structure unprotected by a properly installed course to prevent rising damp is susceptible to natural rising damp. Damp will rise by capillary action through the pores of the masonry seeking a means of evaporation. 
The moisture will continue to rise until it reaches a height where, unless no evaporation is possible, gravity takes over and pulls it down again. This height is seldom more than 1.20m, although deposits of ‘salts’ may be found higher in the internal or external wall, often driven there by the use of non-breathing plasters, renders, ‘tanking’, paints or vinyl wallpapers.
Rising damp in action

How to identify rising damp in internal walls

The telltale signs of rising damp in internal walls include a "tide-mark" on the wall above skirting boards of up to 1 metre, however, it is important to remember that there are many forms of damp that can affect a property. 

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