Moisture Combat: This is how you fight moisture problems!
If you suffer from moisture problems and need proper moisture control, you are certainly not alone. Approximately 1 in 4 house owners in Flanders will sooner or later experience moisture problems that require treatment.
This reduces living comfort and also the value and sales value of the home. A correct diagnosis of the moisture problem is essential to determine the (hidden) cause of the moisture symptoms and to discover the best solutions. Depending on the specific problem, there are different types of moisture control.
In this article we discuss all types of moisture control. More specifically, we go into more detail:
- All types of treatable moisture problems
- The moisture control techniques
- How much moisture control can cost
- Whether you can get subsidies to fight moisture problems
Quickly go to: rising damp - moulds - condensation - ventilation - subsidies
Types of moisture problems in homes
Moisture control is of course only applied to specific moisture problems in homes. First we discuss all the different causes.
Moisture problems in houses can occur in 9 different ways:
1. Building moisture
Moisture problems due to building moisture
Whenever one builds a new house, large amounts of building moisture enter the house due to the intense use of water. Think of the production of concrete, cement or gypsum. As a result, the new home contains an increased concentration of moisture during the first two years after completion.
This temporary increased moisture concentration can lead to moisture problems in the building structure.
2. Rising damp
Rising or rising damp
Moisture that rises or rises due to the capillary action of walls is one of the biggest moisture problems that exist. Most cases of moisture control have to do with the control of moisture that rises in basement walls or walls on the ground floor. Rising damp cannot be confused with rising damp.
3. Condensation water
Moisture problems due to condensation
Air always contains a certain amount of moisture. The higher the air temperature, the higher the humidity can be. That is why air in homes always has a higher humidity than outside air.
4. Moisture production by habitation
Moisture production by habitation
Simply by living in a house, the humidity is increased. Of course, this is not a problem at all, but it may have to be accommodated with extra ventilation.
5. Resuscitating moisture
Rainfallfall
Moisture permeates through rain, allowing rainwater to pass horizontally through untreated walls.
6. Humid crawl space
Crawl space with moisture problems
Crawl spaces and cellars usually have a very high humidity. This creates a vapour pressure difference between the crawl space and the rest of the house. With a higher vapour pressure in the crawl space, moisture can enter the house.
7. Moist cellars
Basement room with moisture problems
The same applies to cellars as to crawl cellars: these are places that are sensitive to various types of moisture problems such as high humidity, with its paired condensation problems or the formation of mould.
8. Construction faults
Human error as the cause of moisture problems
During the construction of a house, various construction defects can be the cause of future moisture problems. For example, rubble in the cavity or mortar residue that builds a bridge between two cavity walls. This allows the moisture to pass capillary to the interior space behind it.
9. Low ventilation
Ventilation: the cause and solution of many moisture problems
It goes without saying that damp air cannot escape from a living space without ventilation grilles or other air vents. Incorrectly positioned ventilation or a construction fault can lead to condensation as a result of moisture not being removed correctly. This causes problems in the long term. An improvement of the existing ventilation facilities or the installation of an additional mechanical ventilation can offer a solution.
