Stamp Out Damp Before Mould Takes a Hold!
We're already halfway through the autumn season and the winter is fast approaching, bringing with it the looming threat of damp. The issue is alarmingly common all year round and becomes even more pressing during the colder seasons; the old proverb about prevention being better than cure is certainly applicable here.
There are several reasons why damp is more prevalent in the winter. The primary reason is the fact that cold air holds less moisture than warm air, leading to an increase in relative humidity. This may at first seem counter-intuitive: how can air with less moisture in it have a higher level humidity?!
'Relative humidity' is a measure of the amount of water vapour held in the air compared to the amount of water vapour it COULD hold at a certain temperature. Let's illustrate this point with an example. Say the temperature of the air is 30°C and it's relative humidity is 50 percent; this means that the air is holding half of the water vapour that it is possible to hold at that temperature. If the air temperature then falls to 15%, that same air is only able to hold half as much vapour as it could at the higher temperature of 30°C. The result is that, even though the air holds exactly the same amount of vapour, its relative humidity increases to 100%.
These moisture issues are compounded by the cold weather causing people to heat their homes to a higher-than-normal level and preventing the heat from escaping by keeping windows and doors tightly closed. This traps the moisture-laden air inside.
Damp can cause all sorts of issues within a property damaging everything from internal decorative finishes to woodwork and masonry, affecting the very fabric of the building. Another common problem is that damp areas provide a perfect habitat for mould growth; these moulds can have serious impacts on respiratory health, especially in children, older people and those with compromised immune systems.
At Greengate's Builders Merchant Accrington, we supply a comprehensive collection of products designed to prevent damp problems before they can even begin, in edition to an equally-comprehensive collection of products that will provide fast, reliable remediation if damp has already made its presence felt.
We invite you to browse the Greengates Builders Merchants website to discover our complete collection of damp proofing products and related ancillary items including insulation and ventilation products along with mould eradication solutions. If you have any questions or need advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our expert technical team.