![]() What is 'damp'?ĭamp as most people know it, when applied to old buildings, is a collection of symptoms. Use them on an old building, and it will get wet. the common thread to all of these is that they are NOT breathable. It is since the war that there has been an exponential explosion in building materials, there are now thousands of them, and most are artificial compounds - gypsum plaster, cement, plastic sheets and membranes, silicones, epoxy resins, polyurethane insulation sheets, fibreglass, plastic coatings and paints. ![]() All of these materials had one thing in common - breathability. It may sound a bit daft, but until the last War, most materials used in buildings are fairly simple - timber, stone, brick, lime based mortars and plasters, and stone or slate tiles. It is the cornerstone of the whole concept of old buildings and architecture. This definition very deliberately talks about breathability. "A solid walled structure, built using breathable materials, which needs to breathe" That didn't really help anyone understand what made them different. ![]() The Official Definition of an Old Building used to be "Built before 1919". Armed with this knowledge, how do we end up with a warm dry house?.How does temperature come into the picture?.This website is dedicated to blowing that rubbish out of the water, and giving you a sound basis on which to learn about your home, how it works, where damp comes from, why it is there, and how to deal with it. ![]() None of it is rocket science - but as you explore the internet, you will find that vast amounts of complete rubbish and scientific nonsense has been written, and continues to be written - most of it in an attempt to sell either chemicals or widgets. So: Read through this introduction, and start to get your head around the building blocks of damp problems and their solutions. If the only thing I can teach you on this website is to understand the difference between water as a gas, and water as a liquid, and how temperature drives this difference, then I've done my job. Almost 100% of damp issues in buildings are caused by condensation, and lack of adequate ventilation. The worst enemy of old houses is we humans - it's what we do to them, or fail to understand about them, that causes problems and makes you think you have to 'Damp Proof'. Nothing lasts forever, but despite English weather, our old buildings stand the test of time better than any modern house. It's inevitable that you will find dampness somewhere in an old house. ![]()
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