Dealing With Moisture In Homes

AS the rainy season begins in earnest, your walls may become damp and the floor can be uncomfortably cold.

This happens because moisture has penetrated through the exteriors of the house and causes damp patches on the internal walls and ground.

You know there is nothing beautiful or homely about damp patches and uncomfortable cold floors, as this results in peeling paint, leakages, molds, fungus, and musty floors. You should know that if nothing is done to rectify it, prolonged exposure to moisture could affect your interior and exterior walls, hereby causing serious damage to the structure of the entire house.

How does moisture happen?

• Water or other liquid diffused as vapour from the ground can rise above ground level and damage walls.

• Splashing rainwater on your exterior walls can cause interior walls to dampen.

• Water flowing from the roofs can drip into the home and cause cracks on the wall.

• Blocked drainage pipes can collect water and cause damp walls.

How to stop wall moisture

Grouting is one of the best ways to cover up cracks on the walls and floors, as it gives your both a crisp finished appearance. It also helps prevent water from penetrating your walls and floors. It adds rigidity and strength to the walls and flooring.

If you’re experiencing moisture in your interior, you can prevent it through the following:

• Waterproof the external walls and roof. This would create a barrier to rainwater and moisture, and prevent damp walls in your home. This would act as a sealant and prevent seepage of water.

• Look out for cracks in your walls and seal them. Then, paint over the walls.

• Install a Damp Proof Course ( DPC) - This is a protection layer generally applied at basement levels, which restricts the movement of moisture through walls. Sometimes, we see wet patches along the lower portion of the walls, close to the skirting.

A damp proof course will prevent ground water from rising up through the walls of your house, otherwise, moisture would cause damages to not just your interior but also your properties.

Although many buildings are usually constructed with a damp proof course in place, however, if you notice damp patches around the skirt of your walls, this implies that the damp proof course needs to be replaced.

Ways to naturally keep moisture at bay

• Keep the home ventilated by opening the windows when there’s a break from rain.

• Remove indoor plants, as this causes humidity.

• Fix leakages.

• Ensure to keep wet shoes, umbrellas, or clothes away from the floor.

• Use camphor balls, neem leaves, or cloves to protect clothes, furniture, wooden doors and windows, cupboards, drawers, wood finishes and other valuable items from dampness.

• Use super- absorbent mats at the entrance of the home.

• Ensure, without fail, to keep your space clean throughout the wet season.