Moist Walls: Causes, Consequences And Measures

At first glance, everything seems fine, but it soon becomes apparent that damp walls can be found in the cellar or even in the living quarters - this scenario does not only apply to new buildings. Old buildings can also be affected. The causes of damp walls are different. However, the same are the necessary measures. So should react quickly to prevent mold growth and health problems.

THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DAMP WALLS

As soon as a damp wall is discovered in the house or apartment, it goes to the cause research. The first signs are wet spots that spread on the walls, loosen the wallpaper or change the wall color at certain points. The causes are many. Especially common reasons are:

1.            Moisture from the inside Just when damp walls occur in a rental apartment , the landlord willseek the cause once the tenant. In fact, it is possible for damp walls to be formed if the air isincorrectly ventilated and heated, and there is a high level of humidity consists. Many people ventilate throughout the day. You open the window and do not close it again. Good airing takes only a few minutes. Shock ventilation achieves effective ventilation of the rooms. Several times a day, the windows are opened wide for five to ten minutes and then closed again. A high humidity in the rooms is caused by too high temperatures, the drying of laundry in the room or even long showering and bathing in the bathroom.

2.            Soil moisture New buildings are less likely to experience the problem, but in old buildings it is possible that no horizontal barrier has been used. This allows soil moisture to rise from the ground up into the masonry. For years, this goes unnoticed, until finally show the damp walls.

3.            Broken, leaky pipe Moist walls are particularly common if a pipe is not tight . The reason for this can be pitting corrosion , which can cause liquid from the water pipes or sewers to penetrate the walls. It comes to a water damage, which must be remedied as soon as possible.

4.            Leaking roof If the roof is leaking , rainwater can seep into the walls and be absorbed by them. Depending on the amount of water, the water wanders through the walls and can cause damage in several rooms. Often, these are noticed late, when the water stains form behind the furniture.

5.            Sewer system is defective Roofs are equipped with a sewage system. This consists for example of gutters. It can happen that the gutters or downpipes are broken or clogged . In that case, the water can not drain properly and seeks its way along the wall of the house. Due to the constant humidity, the house wall sucks more and more fully and the moisture penetrates into the living space. Wet walls are the result.

6.            Problems caused by cold bridges or thermal bridges Normally, during construction, care is taken to ensure that no cold bridges or thermal bridges form. In this area, the heat can escape faster and is directed to the outside. The problem is that this happens much faster than in areas without thermal bridges. This creates an imbalance. Moisture settles and damp walls emerge. The bridges are particularly frequently found, for example, in the area of the windows or in niches in which radiators are installed.

7.            Construction- new buildings often suffer from the so-called building status . During the construction process, moisture penetrates into the materials, which are released from the walls into the rooms after completion. This is basically no problem if the tenant or occupant properly ventilates and heats. It takes about one to two years until the building moisture iscompletely out of the walls. During this time, damp walls can arise. Therefore, residents should be particularly attentive here.

These are just a few of the causes of damp walls. However, these are the most common causes that can occur. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on these issues and to be aware of the presence of damp walls.

MOIST WALLS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

The consequences of damp walls can be distinguished between the consequences for the houseand the consequences for the inhabitants . Even small amounts of moisture are enough to cause lasting damage to the masonry. The moisture dissolves salts from the masonry and these begin to bloom. This is indicated by yellow or white spots on the walls or plaster. The efflorescence can peel off the wallpaper and drop the plaster off the wall. If the moisture can penetrate into wooden components , then it can lead to the formation of a dry rotcome. This fungus is usually discovered very late. Often the woods are already decomposed and it must follow extensive renovations.

Another consequence is of course the mold . Houses with a high level of moisture tend to form mold. The spores are in the air and lay down where they can grow. They are taken up by the inhabitants through the air. This can have health consequences. In the context of mold infestation, there are various categories for classification, which have been determined by the Federal Environmental Agency. Category 0 describes a superficial growth of the walls. Category 3 is already experiencing extreme damage requiring immediate action.

Moisture can lead to permanent damage to the masonry that goes beyond a visual problem. So it can happen that the bricks crumble and the mortar decomposes in the long run. When the outside temperature drops, it can happen that the substance of the house is badly damaged. An impairment of the property is the result.

The health consequences for humans and also pets include the development of bronchial diseases , headaches and severe tiredness , skin irritation and the formation of allergies . Particularly affected are people who are already weak physically, such as seniors and children. It is therefore all the more important to react quickly and to combat the cause of the mold that results from damp walls.

FIGHT DAMP WALLS WITH SEALING SLURRY

If wall damp shows up on the basement wall or in other areas of the house, you can work with a plaster of sealing sludge . A good specialist company also implements this during construction. Often the sealing slurry is seen as a type of primer. It can also be used by itself if the cause of damp walls is known. Dense sludge is used in various areas:

•             Horizontal barrier in the basement area

•             Splash protection at the base of a house

•             Use as intermediate seal when components are moistened

•             Waterproofing when building a terrace or a balcony

•             Protection against splashing water in affected areas in the bathroom or the kitchen

Sealing slurry can be applied to various substrates. It is possible to distribute it on concrete and lime cement plaster , on pure cement plaster , natural stone or on old tiles . There are different types of sealing mud that can be bought. On the packaging it is usually possible to find out which substrate the product is suitable for.

If the walls are already damp, a drying of the building must be carried out in most cases . Here different techniques are used. For example, microwave technology can be used. In this variant, the masonry is heated. The water molecules evaporate inside. A similar effect is attributed to infrared drying. However, in this variant the moisture is released into the room air and then removed by the condenser dryer.

TENANT: RIGHTS ON DAMP WALLS

Show wet walls in a rental apartment , the question comes to what rights tenants have here. This applies to basement walls as well as for apartment walls. The first step is always the desire that the landlord begins directly with the renovation. The landlord will however want to know where the damp walls come from. If the responsibility for the emergence lies with the tenant, this may have to pay for the remedy. In the case of verifiable construction defects, on the other hand, the landlord is obliged to do something.

Tenants should turn in the first step in uncertainties to the tenants' association . The contact point here is:

Deutscher Mieterbund eV

Littenstr. 10

10179 Berlin

Tel : +49 30 223 23 0

Mail : info@mieterbund.de

Web : www.mieterbund.de

In addition, tenants have the opportunity to inform themselves at Network Schimmel eV about a possible procedure for the renovation:

Network eV mold

Schwarzer Weg 27

26215 Wiefelstede / Metjendorf

Tel : +49 441 3094 2930

Email : kontakt@netzwerk-schimmel.info

Web : www.netzwerk-schimmel.info

In order to be able to enforce his rights as a tenant, it makes sense to have a report prepared. A contact point for this is a building biology expert who can find out the cause of damp walls. To find a contact person nearby, take a look at the offer of:

Professional association of German building biologists VDB registered association

Roggenkamp 21

21266 Jesteburg

Tel : 04183 7735 301

Mail : info@baubiologie.net

Web : www.baubiologie.net

TRACING MOLD: THE USE OF MILDEW DETECTION DOGS

One of the consequences of damp walls is the formation of mold . Once the mold is there, the right ventilation no longer helps. In that case, action must be taken quickly. It is all the better to know exactly if the living spaces are affected by mold and where it is located. One of the ways to find out is the use of white-throated dogs. Muzzle-hunting dogs are specially trained dogs. Certification of these dogs is made, for example, by the German Association of mold fungus rehabilitation eV . If you have questions about this topic, you can contact the association directly:

BSS eV

Grafenberger Allee 293

40237 Dusseldorf

Tel : +49 800 277 44 44

Mail : info@bss-schimmelpilz.de

Web : www.bss-schimmelpilz.de

As soon as wet walls are noticed, the dogs can be used. Anyone who has previously suspected mold can also have the plaster, masonry and walls checked. The dogs feel the mold even if it is not even visible. Particularly helpful is that they can make a local limitation. This can be started directly with the mold control. The following website is helpful in the search for a gray dog in the vicinity: