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The term ‘traumatic damp’ was popularised by recent Government guidelines on the risks of damp and mould for landlords and covers dampness caused by water leaks. Water that enters the home from the outside environment, like leaking water from another building or flooding, can also cause traumatic damp.
Common causes of traumatic damp include:
• Overflowing sinks, showers or baths
• Broken pipes
• Leaking water storage vessels
• Broken heating or waste pipes.
Damp caused by leaks can be just as harmful as dampness caused by penetrating or rising damp. Too much moisture is bad for every type of building material. It encourages black mould, which destroys painted and wallpapered walls, weakens plasterboard ceilings and causes dry rot that eats away at floorboards.
These defects are usually treated as separate and sometimes unpreventable issues, but a holistic approach to traumatic damp is the best way to keep buildings dry.
Protect your wallet and wellbeing by preventing damage before repairs are needed. Here’s a list of everything you need to do to ensure that traumatic damp doesn’t strike, and how to minimise the damage if it does.
Damp-resistant plaster
Gypsum plaster is popular in the UK as it provides an interior wall surface that’s ready to decorate. It is quick drying on application and offers low thermal conductivity. However, gypsum plaster cracks easily and absorbs moisture like a sponge. Damp plaster spoils the entire wall and provides a breeding ground for black mould growth.
Breathable renovation plaster is a great alternative to gypsum plaster that ensures your home is protected should the worst happen. It allows walls to dry naturally and creates an insulating surface that is salt resistant, which can be a problem for damp walls.
If you’re looking at plasterboard for a surface that can be immediately redecorated, apply a water-resistant cream to the bare masonry wall. It locks efflorescent salts away and creates a dry and breathable surface for your chosen finish.
Fortifying for flood protection
Flooding is a stressful and disruptive event, no matter how prepared you are. Floodwater enters the home through vents, service entry points like utility pipes and porous masonry. Be forward thinking and use damp-resistant building materials throughout your build to minimise flood damage and prevent traumatic damp.
Once you’ve kitted out the interior with damp-resistant plaster, it’s time to have a look at the external walls. Damaged exterior masonry joints behind gypsum-plastered internal walls are a recipe for dampness. Protect external walls by fixing cracks in the brickwork and repointing to a high standard using products like Stormdry Repointing Additive No. 2. Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream waterproofs brickwork, masonry, mortar and concrete with an invisible finish that’s been certified for 25 years of service. You may also want to install anti-flood airbricks that automatically close when flooded.
Don’t forget about below-ground defences. In the event of flooding, water can seep from below ground through floors and basements. Always ensure that a damp-proof membrane is installed. In case of damage or if a physical DPM is not feasible, install a remedial DPC, like Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods.
Check copper piping
Copper pipes are commonly used to transport water throughout your home for cleaning, drinking and heating. However, they are vulnerable to pinhole leaks and, like a slow puncture on a bicycle, a slow leak can go undetected for some time.
As pinhole leaks only leak small amounts of water at a time and are often hidden behind walls and under baths, sinks and floors, it takes time for a defective copper pipe to create a noticeable damp problem. You’ll want to resolve the fault as quickly as possible to prevent rotten floorboards and mouldy walls.
Use your senses
A damp home smells musty and earthy. Use your sense of smell to isolate where the scent is strongest to zone in on the cause of traumatic damp. Listen carefully under sinks, baths and around boilers for dripping water. Keep an eye on the water bill and investigate any unusually high bills. Get a qualified plumber to carry out annual checks of your home plumbing system.
Get black mould gone
If you don’t ensure your home is damp free, black mould will soon grow on walls and ceilings. Mould is harmful to home and health, and is capable of causing and worsening respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
Bleach-based sprays from the supermarket clean the stain off your wall, but do nothing to deal with the mould itself. They are also water-based, which feeds the mould instead of getting rid of it. After cleaning walls with bleach spray, always make sure you follow it up with a biocidal cleaner. Biocides eliminate mould spores and the mould organism itself from the surface of walls and ceilings and keep them away with barrier protection.
Understanding and materials
Traumatic damp can be devastating. By being aware of the different ways that leaks can occur and ensuring you equip your home with the right materials, you can keep your home free from traumatic damp.
