There is some amount of dampness in my house on some walls, it does not look good.
If ignored, dampness could do serious damage to the walls and structure of the house, so one should act quickly. Here’s what can be done…
Look Out for Cracked Walls
Cracks in walls can appear due to climatic changes and can damage the structure of your home. They typically start near the window frames and doors, allowing moisture to seep into the structure, causing dampness. Good quality putty should be used to fill in such cracks and then the walls repainted. The cracks should be filled before the monsoon season as it gives your walls plenty of time to dry.
Air Ventilation
Too much moisture in a room can be because of the lack of required air ventilation. Ensure there is enough fresh air passing in and out of the rooms. This will keep the humidity levels in check and dampness away.
Dampness is also caused due to the trapped steam within the home. Most of the steam generates in the kitchen or bathrooms due to warm water. So, install exhaust fans that will ensure proper air ventilation. If you have windows in all rooms, keep them open for at least sometime during the day to let the air flow freely.
Use Water Proofing Coat
Waterproofing coat is a material applied to the interiors as well as exteriors - walls, ceilings and flooring before the paint, plaster or tiling work is done. This acts a barrier for the water seeping in and also slows down the spread of moisture, thus preventing dampness.
At times, there can be gaps between the tiles and slowly the moisture might start to accumulate in between causing seepage. Such areas should be treated using waterproofing compounds.
Hire a professional who can help you with water proofing your home, if you don’t already have the same.
Fixing Walls Adjacent To The Bathrooms
The other aspect is to ensure you have water proofed the flooring and the internal walls of the bathrooms. This will stop the seepage from getting out or below to cause any problem to your neighbors living on the floor below yours.
You need to ensure that the tile joints in your neighbors bathrooms are properly sealed to prevent leakage through to your side, any sign of seepage on the walls which are adjacent to your neighbor’s bathroom should be brought to their notice. Unless they fix the issue at their end, you will keep facing this issue. Water proofing from your end will certainly reduce this and slow down the seepage.
Opt for Tiles + Water Repellent Paint
Whenever you opt for getting your walls painted opt for specialized paints that are modified with silicon and have high water repellency. Also, getting such walls tiled is a good option.