Usually when people hear about damp or excessive moisture they are talking about their property, or its interior walls.
However, damp does not discriminate when it is choosing where to live and fester. If the conditions for damp are optimal, then it will set up camp and develop there.
Apart from the actual houses, damp can often be found in the fences and walls within gardens, drives, or yards attached to, or near to their properties.
These boundaries still belong to the property owner, and they are responsible for them and the state they are kept in. They are also responsible making sure they are also not interfering or causing nuisance to their neighbours.
These garden walls and fences also need some TLC when it comes to damp.
Whilst garden walls and fences are designed to withstand the weather, they will not be immune to the effects of moisture forever.
Moisture can seep in through the smallest of cracks, and both garden walls (whether brick or concrete) and fencing in your garden can become damp, though, the causes of the damp may differ.
It is this deterioration that can cause aesthetic issues, structural problems, or even safety concerns.
Can my Brick Garden Wall Get Damp?
As far as brick walls are concerned, damp can occur due to several factors, much like a standard wall in a house. One way the damp can occur is via capillary action from the moisture in the ground, known as rising damp., or penetrating damp due to poor drainage, the wall being damaged, or the wall developing cracks.
The bricks and mortar sticking the wall together are porous materials, which can absorb moisture and water overtime, and cause the wall to deteriorate. This is especially the case if there is some damage, like the cracks we mentioned before.
Worried About Damp in your Property?
Can my Concrete Fencing Get Damp?
Concrete fences are very common, and usually the fencing is made up of a concrete base, with wooden fence panels slotted on top in between concrete beams.
The concrete part of the fence touches the ground, and then the top of the same piece of concrete touches the wooden fence panel.
Moisture can travel up the concrete, which is a porous material, which can absorb water over time. This can then travel up to the fence panels and make them damp, and weaken their structure. This can be particularly true for older walls made without modern water-resistant treatments.
Can my Fencing Get Damp?
Fencing can rot away as a result of rainwater, or the moisture being trapped in between the wooden fence panels, that has risen from the ground up.
If this occurs over prolonged periods of time, this trapped moisture could lead to rotting or mould on the panels, as well as cracking or splitting due to the weakened structure.
This is called wet rot, and it is especially the case if the fencing is not sealed or treated properly.
Signs of Damp in Garden Walls and Fencing
Damp can look different depending on the type of surface it is on, the materials used to build it and how long ago it has been built. The most common signs of damp in garden walls and fencing are:
Mould, moss or algae growth: this can be a mixture of green or black growth mould growth or fuzzy moss growing in the shaded part of the wall or fence.
Discoloration: where there are darker damp patches on the wall, it is a sign that it has absorbed a lot of water. Wooden fence panels that have absorbed a lot of moisture can become soft, spongy and discoloured.
Crumbling or flaking: the surface of a wall may crumble or degrade due to the water infiltrating the building materials, causing them to weaken and lose their structure. Where wooden panels are concerned, the moisture that is absorbed can expand and contract as it dries, causing splitting and weaken its structure.
Efflorescence: salt deposits, which often look whiteish that are found on the surface of the wall, mean that moisture has travelled from the ground up and has evaporated at the height of the salt residue.
Consequences of Not Fixing Damp Garden Walls and Fencing
Damp on garden walls and fencing can cause quite a headache, which is why it is best to take preventative measures whenever possible to prolong the life and integrity of the garden walls or fences.
Here are the main consequences of not fixing damp garden walls and fencing:
Damp can spread: When damp is left untreated or the cause of the damp is not fixed, the damp can further spread onto adjoining walls or structures. If your garden wall or fence is attached to your property, then the damp could spread to your property and can continue to cause damage there.
Devaluation of the overall property: If your garden wall or fence deteriorates, it may not look appealing to potential buyers, and they may try to negotiate on the selling price.
High repair costs: If it is left to deteriorate, then eventually the whole structure may have to be replaced. This would be a lot more costly than regular maintenance and fixing smaller aspects over the years.
Legal or financial repercussions from neighbours: Garden walls and fences are often structures that you share with your neighbours, meaning it is both of your responsibilities. If one of your neighbours wants to replace or treat an adjacent garden that has been affected by damp and you don’t agree and the dampness affects their property, you may face legal or financial repercussions.
Book a specialised Damp & Timber Survey.
How to Prevent my Garden Wall or Fencing from Getting Damp?
There are a few ways by which you can prevent your garden wall or fence from getting damp or developing mould and prolong the life of the structure. Doing these things can also save you some pennies in the long run, in having to completely replace the garden wall or fence.
Here is a list of recommendations:
Maintenance: This is a big preventative measure that can greatly reduce costs and stress in the long run. Regularly maintaining your garden wall or fence means you will be able to spot wear and tear and small damages, to act on it quickly and make the wall or fence structurally sound again.
Damp proof membrane: One option is to damp-proof the garden wall or fence, to ensure its longevity and prevent it from developing damp or mould. The best course of action would be to install a damp-proof membrane down underneath a garden wall or fence, before it is built. Alternatively, you can inject a damp-proof course into the wall or concrete fence to stop the damp from rising and deteriorating the wall or fence more.
Treatment or fixing: Treating or fixing the damp, mould or rot issue and its source as soon as possible is advisable, as this prevents the damp getting out of hand and spreading. Brick garden walls and concrete walls can be injected with a damp proof course and fence panels treated, sealed or replaced.
If you notice damp in your garden walls or fencing, it is paramount to address the problem as soon as possible before it gets any worse. The steps outlined above are a great start to look after your garden wall or fence
Proper care and maintenance will always be at the top of the list, however each and every garden wall or fence is unique and may require different measures to be taken to protect it, and the people using it.
Diagnosing and understanding the source of the damp, taking the necessary remedial steps like applying waterproofing treatments, improving drainage around your property can be appropriate and proactive measures to prolong the like and structural stability of your garden wall or fence.
Worried About Damp in your Property?
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