Suffering from a damp ground floor?

Do you suffer from moisture in the ground floor? You're not alone: in Flanders, many first floors suffer from moisture problems such as condensation, ventilation problems, rising damp, damp floor, leaks or a musty smell.

Recognize moisture on the ground floor

A first floor is an important place in the home. It is the place where you live, cook, do your laundry and pee, or perhaps where you do your hobbies. In other words, the ground floor is a place where you should like to be and where you would rather not have moisture problems.

An ideal humidity level for a ground floor is between 40% and 60%. Is the value greater than that? Then chances are that sooner or later you will experience moisture spots and problems. You can usually recognize an overly humid ground floor by the following symptoms:

• Colored stains on the wall
• Mold spots
• Loose paintwork, wallpaper or grouting
• A musty and unpleasant odor
• Dripping on the windows and walls
• ...

If you notice these issues in your ground floor, it's a good idea to call in a moisture expert

Consequences of a damp ground floor

If you notice the previous signs in your downstairs but do not intervene, it can lead to all kinds of negative consequences. We list the most important ones:

Causes of a too damp ground floor and their solutions

There are several different causes of downstairs moisture, each with its own approach. It is recommended to hire a moisture expert to determine the exact cause. Once the exact cause is known, a proper solution can also be provided. The most common causes are:

1. Condensation moisture

Condensation moisture is a common cause of damp ground floors because condensation is often caused by human actions. Examples include breathing or perspiration from occupants. Drying laundry or mopping can also increase humidity. In addition, cold bridges can also be the culprit.

The ideal solution to condensation moisture is to ventilate your ground floor as well as possible. This can be done by taking action yourself, but a mechanical ventilation system can also help.

2. Rising damp

Rising damp can also lead to moisture on the ground floor. This occurs when there is a problem with or lack of the water barrier, causing groundwater moisture to penetrate the walls of the first floor.

Rising damp is best handled professionally by having your walls injected. This is when specialists drill holes in the damp walls and then inject them with a damp-proofing product.

3. Penetrating moisture

Finally, seepage moisture can be at the root of damp ground floors. This is moisture that penetrates through the outside of the house through (heavy) precipitation and seeps through the interior walls.

Penetrating moisture in the first floor is best combated through facade impregnation, which involves applying a transparent but waterproof layer to the facade.