Continued Moisture Exposure In A Building : What Are The Signs?

If you are looking to buy a building and want to be sure that you are not going to have moisture issues in the future, you will want to know what the signs of continued exposure to moisture look like. While these signs are not a guarantee that the building has been continually exposed to moisture, if you do see any of them it makes sense to have things checked out further to save yourself expense and worry later. If an older home has recently been raised up  or restumped these signs could mean that the problem has already been tackled by a company such as Black & White House Raising and Restumping.

Mould

Depending on how much mould is present and how well-established it is under paintwork, floorboards and other hidden places, it can either be a short-term issue to get under control, or could point to issues with continued moisture in the building. Mould occurs from continued dampness, which can be caused by internal issues such as leaking pipes, or external moisture issues such as rainwater or rising damp.

Staining

If you find surface stains or stains on lifted surfaces then there is a good chance that the building has had continued exposure to moisture, which has likely caused an issue that is known as ‘rising damp’. The dreaded rising damp leaves markings because as the moisture dries it is drawn to the surface and gets trapped under paint and other surface finishes, leaving staining.

Crystallisation

Another tell-tale sign of hidden moisture issues can be a crystallisation on surfaces of the building. If there is continued moisture rising up a wall that has salts from soil or bricks, the salt will crystallise and leave white marks on the surface as it is drying. It can look like a white coating and if it happens continuously it can cause damage to the bricks and mortar leading to a destabilising of the structure.

Should you have already bought a building and are now noticing any of these signs, all is not lost. Black & White House Raising and Restumping are experts in lifting houses up and out of places where there is continued exposure to moisture, which can make a huge difference to combating the issue. You may also find that the addition of extra space underneath the house affords room for storage or an extra room.