Your home or commercial property is one of your most valuable investments, and it’s prone to damage due to moisture penetration with the potential to be both costly and difficult to repair. Because rising damp can lead to so many serious issues within your building, it’s vitally important to invest in damp-proofing measures while keeping an eye out for signs of moisture penetration.
Problems Caused by Moisture Penetration
Whether it’s attributed to moisture penetration through the wall cavity, rising damp or condensation due to lack of ventilation, dampness on interior walls can cause a wide array of problems for home owners.
When there’s excessive moisture present, mould and mildew growth, timber rot and structural damage are soon to follow. Unless moisture is immediately visible on interior walls or surfaces, it can also be difficult for the average home owner to detect until damage occurs. It’s easy to spot discoloured ceilings and walls, or visible mould growth, but only if they appear in visible areas. Often, though, the signs of excessive moisture and moisture penetration are most apparent in areas where the average home owner has no cause to look. As a result, hidden damage continues to grow worse, unabated, until it reaches a quite serious point.
Preventing and Detecting Moisture Penetration
There are steps home owners can take to prevent many common causes of moisture damage. Poorly maintained guttering, improper drainage and obvious plumbing leaks are all common causes which can be addressed by home owners as a means of prevention. Other issues, like faulty construction or poor quality building materials, aren’t as easy to address because they’re not immediately obvious to the untrained eye.
This is where working with a qualified, professional building inspector can take the guesswork out of protecting your home from moisture penetration and related damage. With a detailed building inspection report, you’re able to learn more about areas where moisture penetration is already an issue, or could become a problem in the future. By catching issues before they worsen, or before they actually start to cause damage, you’re able to better protect your home, your investment and the health of everyone in your household.
Investing in damp-proofing measures doesn’t just allow you to avoid property damage down the road. When you put a stop to moisture penetration, you’re also preventing mould and mildew growth, which can have a substantial negative impact on the health of the occupants of your home. This is especially true for those with allergies or asthma, as the presence of mould and mildew can exacerbate these conditions dramatically. Don’t let moisture penetration, rising damp or other moisture issues wreak havoc with your home and health. Contact a reputable building inspection company, and have your property evaluated by experienced professionals who are trained to spot even the earliest warning signs.
Houspect – Buy, Build, Invest and Sell with Confidence
08 9240 8855
info.wa@houspectwa.com.au
