Damp Proofing Guide For Homes and Businesses

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Damp proofing your home is an important part of making sure your home is both safe and able to withstand the test of time. This goes for residential as well as commercial properties. The first step in damp proofing your home involves looking into the condition of your foundation, or foundation walls. You should also check out any underlayment or overlying material that is likely to be causing moisture to seep in.

damp proofingSpot When Damp Proofing is Needed

The most likely problem with a home is a wet sub-floor or basement floor. If you have such a floor then it is very important to get it properly dried out before starting any damp proofing work. Once this is done then it is advisable to do some work on the outside of the wall, either by caulk or water-proofing the surface, to make sure this area does not become a wet mess again.

Water proofing can also include caulking on the inside of the wall, as well as on the exterior. Not only does this help keep water out, but it will protect the building materials from the elements as well. This will mean that you can avoid unnecessary repairs later on.

damp proofingWindows and Doors

Your chances of damp proofing your home by flooding also increases if you have any leaky windows. This is due to the fact that the moisture and air which enter through the window will cause the humidity to rise. As a result, it will become heavier and eventually form water, whether you want it to or not.

It is important to remember that even though you are doing the work to make your home waterproof, it is still worth going through the trouble of keeping your home dry. Using natural insulation like straw bales to line your windows and doors will keep you dry, which is one less thing to worry about. If you are finding it difficult to keep your home dry, then consider investing in quality wood products like cedar wood shakes and shingles.

As these materials are also waterproof, they will offer some added protection against water seeping in. In addition, using wood products means you won’t have to wait for them to cure, which is another added benefit. Keeping your home dry is easy and affordable, it just takes a little bit of common sense to keep things running smoothly.

buildingChecking the Building

When it comes to damp proofing your home, you don’t need to stop at simply checking the foundation walls or basement floors. Look for cracks around the building, which may have allowed water to penetrate. With modern home renovation techniques this shouldn’t be a problem and should be taken care of relatively quickly.

Home improvement is often expensive and it pays to find out if you are indeed doing the right thing by working on your home by going through the pros and cons of damp proofing. Being proactive is always good and there are plenty of ways to ensure that your home remains dry and protected, from doing the initial check-up to DIY projects and more.