Thanks to the recent storms that have hit the UK, the country is now facing a wide scale ‘clean up’ operation. Initial assessments of the damage caused by the flooding suggest that local councils will be hit with an estimated £400m repair bill (Source: BBC News). A daunting and stressful time lies ahead for those home owners that are affected. As specialists in dealing with dampness in properties Timberwise are ideally placed to advise homeowners on dealing with dampness caused by flooding and penetration of the fabric of the building.
With over 45 years’ experience within property care, our experts deal with damp problems every day and know all to well that water damage can have a destructive effect if the property is not correctly dried out. Further damage to the property, such as Dry Rot, can become costly and, in severe cases, can also be potentially harmful to the health of occupants.
Damp problems in properties are not just caused by flooding – penetrating damp can also cause misery for home owners. Most people usually presume that rain water damage is usually due to an issue from the top of the property, for example the roof or the guttering; however this is not always true. Water penetration can appear through the windows, doors, the chimney, walls, floor and the basement of the property.
Tell-tale penetrating damp signs to look out for:
1. Begin with checking outside the property for standing water, possibly found in the garden or the driveway. This shows that water is not draining away and can usually be amended by cleaning the drains, to allow the water to pass through. However, if left unattended, the water can build up and enter the property. Any water build up at ground level will most likely appear in a basement or cellar, if the property has one. Check for damp patches, mould, standing puddles or even a musty smell, appearing through any walls or even the floor.
2. Keeping on top of the gutters with regular maintenance is essential to prevent any blockages. As the blockages can cause an overflow of water which can seep into the masonry of the property, eventually causing damp patches on internal surfaces. This can lead to interior damage on the walls such as peeling wallpaper, flaking paintwork and even blown plaster.
3. In cases whereby the water has seeped into the property, mould will begin to grow in the damp areas, however it may not always be visible at first glance as it tends to appear in dark, moist areas such as, behind furniture, insulation or under floorboards. In some cases the mould can cause respiratory problems and agitate those suffering from asthma even further. Be sure to keep an eye on the mould and if it does reoccur after a couple of weeks there may be more to the damp problem. Mould may also be a sign of a condensation issue within the property.
4. In severe cases of water ingress, the dampness within the property can affect the timbers causing dry rot and wet rot issues. Both types can severely cause damage to the timbers within the property, compromising the stability of the structure if not treated quickly. Damages to the roof, guttering and even poor sub floor ventilation are potential issues that can lead to rot.
5. Signs of a dry rot outbreak would be a mushroom-like fruiting body appearing on the timbers with possible fine white hyphae strands spreading out from the fruiting body. Moisture is the key for dry rot to grow; despite the name, and therefore to avoid growth of the rot the area must be damp free with the correct ventilation.
Water damage is not always apparent at first and can take some time to see the true damage caused by the water penetration. It is therefore vital to keep an eye on affected areas within the property before the problems develop and become much worse. Timberwise can also help properties that have been affected by flooding. As members of the PCA Flood Remediation Group Timberwise have to meet tough criteria. Timberwise can be called upon to provide high quality flood remediation works, as well as advice and guidance with drying the building and preventing decay following a flood.
For further information on floods and how to prepare in the event of a flood visit the Environment Agency web pages dedicated to flooding.
If you have a property that has suffered at the hands of flooding and needs help from our team of specialists either fill out our online survey request form or call 0800 288 8660.
