Salt damp is caused by the rising moisture containing dissolved salts which crystallise when the water dries up. Some parts of Australia have high cases of salt damp due to their high salt content and high temperatures. Salt damp can lead to serious structural damage. Identifying evidence of salt damp will help in planning for timely inspections and treatment. Therefore, learn the top indications that you need an expert salt damp inspection.
Stains of Water
A common indication that your home is experiencing a rising damp problem is water stains on your interior or exterior walls. Paint or wallpaper on the interior walls makes it easier to identify water stains on those than on external walls.
If there is wallpaper installed on the walls, the appearance of brown patches is a clear indication of damp. These patches look like a wet wall dried up, leaving dirty spots. The stained areas can feel damp, dry, or cold to the touch.
Damage on Surface
It takes some time before rising damp starts staining the walls. So, by the time you start noticing these stains, the interior and exterior walls may be breaking down. For instance, when the skirting boards are exposed to dampness for long, they start rotting. After walls are exposed to water, moisture starts affecting the paint and plaster, causing pieces to break off. Other signs of damp damage are flaky patches and bubbles.
The same problems will appear on the outside walls if they are coated. If the walls are bare, search for loose or broken pieces of mortar. When the mortar breaks off, the surface starts crumbling. In worse scenarios, these wall surfaces will produce flakes when you rub them.
Salt Powder
Moisture damage on the walls indicates general damp, but you can identify a salt issue by the appearance of salt powder. If the moisture moving up the walls contains dissolved salts, salt particles remain behind when it dries up. Therefore, once you see salt crusts that appear rough or white tidemarks, you may need salt damp treatment.
Rot on Floors and Skirting Boards
If the damp issue is ignored for a long time, the floorboards and skirting boards start to rot. Most rot cases result from fungal attack because of excess moisture. But salt crystals could also cause serious rotting damage to your home's structure. Therefore, keep checking for cracked skirtings or ones that crumble to the touch.
Identifying the evidence of salt damp early enough can help you plan for treatment before it is too late. Once you suspect that there may be salt damp, get a salt damp inspection done.
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