Any questions about damp control?
To help you get started quickly and effectively, we have compiled the most frequently asked questions from our customers about damp control and organised them by topic. Click on a category to find the answer to your question straight away. If your specific situation isn’t listed here, or if you’d like immediate certainty, our experts will visit you free of charge and with no obligation anywhere in Flanders for a professional damp survey made to measure. Or take contact Contact us for an immediate answer to your specific question.
Damp problems & causes
Moisture in the basement during the summer is caused by the phenomenon summer condensation. The air in summer is warm and can contain a great deal of moisture. When you open the cellar windows or doors on a warm day, this warm, humid air flows into the cool cellar. As soon as the warm air comes into contact with the cold cellar walls and floor, it cools down rapidly and the excess moisture condenses into droplets. It then looks as though the cellar is leaking, when in fact it is condensation. You can solve this by only ventilating cellars at night during the summer, or a professional ventilation system to be placed.
Damp in the wall may be legally classified as a hidden defect in the case of buying a house, but specific conditions must be met for this. The damp problem The defect must already have been seriously present before the deed of sale was signed; it must render the property unfit for normal use or significantly reduce its value; and it must not have been apparent to the buyer during the viewings. A seller is not liable if the damp problem was easily detectable during the viewings. In the event of disputes or legal proceedings, an independent and detailed moisture diagnosis from AquaConsult to serve as official technical evidence.
Relative humidity 60% is the absolute upper limit for a healthy indoor climate. The ideal humidity level in a home is between 40% and 60%. If the percentage is consistently above 60%, you create an ideal breeding ground for dust mites, silverfish and mould on walls and ceilings. In the long run, this may lead to health complaints such as respiratory infections, allergies and asthma. If the humidity remains too high despite ventilation, this is often due to an invisible moisture problem or a shortage of mechanical ventilation.
Yes, groundwater can penetrate concrete. Although cast concrete is a strong material, it is not naturally 100% watertight when subjected to high hydrostatic groundwater pressure. Groundwater can penetrate through hairline cracks, shrinkage cracks, pockets of gravel or poorly compacted concrete. Furthermore, joint connections, such as the edge joint between the concrete floor slab and the basement walls, are susceptible to water infiltration. Professional cellar waterproofing or injection The joint seal restores the concrete structure’s complete watertightness.
Moisture solutions
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this damp walls. The best treatment depends entirely on the correct diagnosis from the moisture problem.
- Rising damp: inject walls using a moisture-repellent gel to create a horizontal barrier against rising groundwater.
- Penetrating moisture: Waterproof the external wall with facade impregnation to apply a moisture-resistant protective coating to the façade.
- Condensation moisture: the installation of monitored mechanical ventilation.
- Damp basement: a traditional basement or an asset basement drainage system.
Incorrect treatment, such as injecting the walls when the problem is condensation, does not solve the problem. A professional moisture analysis is therefore always the first step.
Rising damp Treating damp in an internal wall requires a well-thought-out and, above all, professional approach. First, we remove the affected layer of plaster to well above the damp line. We then drill holes at regular intervals at the bottom of the wall, into which a high-quality moisture-repellent gel is injected under pressure. This gel spreads through the pores of the brickwork and forms a permanent, water-repellent barrier. To prevent any residual hygroscopic salts from the wall from migrating into the new plasterwork, we apply a special salt-resistant dimpled membrane before giving the wall a smooth finish with plastering tailor-made.
To get rid of damp patches on the wall for good, you must first identify the cause of the moisture problem remove. Only once the wall has been treated, sealed or ventilated, and the drying time is over, can you repair the visible damage to the wall.
- Remove any loose paint, wallpaper or plaster and any fungi thoroughly.
- If there are white salt efflorescences, treat the wall with a salt-neutral product.
- Apply an insulating, moisture-resistant primer to prevent old damp patches from reappearing.
- Finish with high-quality plasterwork and breathable paint.
No, painting over damp patches without the moisture problem There is absolutely no point in trying to fix this. If the wall is still damp, the new coat of paint will not adhere properly, blisters will form on the wall and, within a few weeks or months, the paint will start to flake off again. Furthermore, hygroscopic salts will continue to attract moisture from the air, meaning the stains will always reappear. So always tackle the cause first, allow the wall to dry out completely, and then use a specific damp-proof primer.
Minor damp problems caused by condensation moisture You can sort this out yourself by ensuring the room is well ventilated every day, heating it evenly and fungi remove it using a suitable cleaning product. But when it comes to rising damp, penetrating moisture or a damp cellar? In that case, do-it-yourself products – such as applying a coating to the walls or using DIY injection kits – usually provide only a temporary and superficial solution. Without professional equipment and the right chemical barriers, the damp will remain trapped in the wall and the damage will continue to spread unnoticed.
Moisture in the basement Depending on the condition of the walls and the hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater, we tackle this using two professional methods.
- Basements: In this process, the cellar walls are stripped back to the brickwork, after which several layers of waterproof render and mortar are applied. Ideal for cases of slight to moderate moisture ingress.
- Basement drainage: Where there is high groundwater pressure or damp rising through the floor, we fit a dimpled membrane to the walls and floor. Any water seeping in is collected and automatically drained off to the sewer system via a pump pit.
AquaConsult has an excellent reputation in Flanders, with an average customer rating of 4.2 out of 5 on independent review platforms such as Homeproved and Google Reviews. In their reviews, customers particularly appreciate our fast and accurate moisture diagnosis, the clear and honest advice, the professional execution of the work and our excellent warranty terms.
Costs, premiums & insurance
At AquaConsult, the initial inspection by one of our damp experts is completely free of charge. Our expertise On-site, 100% is free of charge and without obligation. Our experts will visit you anywhere in Flanders to carry out a detailed assessment and survey of your specific situation and property. Using professional equipment such as moisture metres we will identify the exact cause of the moisture problem. Whether it’s about rising damp, condensation moisture or a leak in the cellar, our experts will carry out a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the damp problem. Once this is complete, you will receive detailed and clear advice, including the appropriate moisture solution and a no-obligation quote.
Yes, when you moisture control If you have the work carried out in Flanders, in many cases you can call upon the My Renovation Premium. This grant covers, amongst other things, the treatment of rising damp via wall injections and for professional cellar waterproofing, under the ‘Walls’ or ‘Interior Renovation’ categories. Depending on your income bracket and household composition, the grant can amount to 35% or even 50% of the total invoice amount, with a maximum grant of between €1,400 and €2,000. Is your home more than 10 years old? If so, you’ll also benefit from the reduced VAT rate of 6% instead of 21%. Once the work is complete, AquaConsult will provide you with all the necessary certificates so that you can submit your application smoothly.
Whether your insurance covers water damage depends on the cause of the damage. Insurers generally only compensate for water damage resulting from a sudden and unforeseen problem or incident. Examples include a burst water pipe, a leak in the drainage system, a broken gutter or damage caused by a storm. Latent moisture problems, such as rising damp due to a missing barrier, penetrating moisture due to an outdated façade or condensation moisture due to poor ventilation, are generally regarded as a lack of maintenance or a structural problem. As a result, they are not covered by your insurance. Our experts can, during the free expertise draw up a technical report that you can submit to your insurance company’s assessor.
The wall injection at rising damp costs on average between €100 and €150 per running metre (excl. VAT). The exact price depends on several factors, such as the total length of the walls to be treated, the thickness of the brickwork, the type of building materials and the accessibility required to carry out the work. This price includes drilling the injection holes, injecting the high-quality siloxane gel under pressure and a neat finish, such as the plastering, included. As every home is unique, at AquaConsult we take into account a moisture measurement always a detailed, bespoke quotation.
No, rising damp is almost never covered by standard fire insurance. This is because building and fire insurance policies only cover sudden damage, whilst rising damp is regarded as a gradual and structural process. You will therefore have to pay the costs of treating rising damp yourself. However, you can recover a large proportion of the costs through the My Renovation Premium. Furthermore, prompt treatment of the moisture problem that, in the long run, damage will occur which will seriously affect the structure of your home.
For basement waterproofing, such as a basement tank or basement drainage, in Flanders you can receive a grant via the My Renovation Premium. As the cellar is an essential part of the property’s structure, cellar renovations fall under the category of interior renovation or foundations and walls. Depending on your household income, you will receive a refund of between 35% and 50% on the approved invoice. For properties over 10 years old, the following also applies: the reduced VAT rate of 6%. Our experts carry out calculations during the free expertise exactly how much you are entitled to and how to claim it correctly.
The premium for the treatment of rising damp falls under the My Renovation Premium. If you have the walls treated with grout If the work is carried out by a certified contractor such as AquaConsult, you can, depending on your income bracket, claim back up to €1,400 or €2,000 of the invoice amount. The grant applies to both external walls and load-bearing internal walls. To be eligible for this grant, the property must be at least 15 years old and the invoice must meet specific conditions. Upon completion of the work, AquaConsult will automatically provide you with all the necessary documentation for this grant.
A professional moisture measurement The service provided by AquaConsult is completely free of charge. Our damp expert will visit your home and use advanced measuring equipment to determine damp levels not only on the surface but also deep within the wall. With this free damp assessment, we identify the exact cause of the moisture problem bring this to light and ensure you don’t invest in the wrong solution.
The cost of moisture control range from €800 to over €3,000, depending on the technology required and the scale of the moisture problem.
- Wall injection at rising damp: € to €150 per running metre.
- Impregnating a façade at penetrating moisture: €15 to €30 per m².
- Decentralised ventilation at condensation moisture: €1,200 to €2,800 per unit.
- Basements or -drainage: €3,000 to €8,000, depending on the floor area.
Thanks to the combination of the My Renovation Premium and the reduced VAT rate of 6% In practice, the final net investment often turns out to be lower.
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