Why Checking Basements For Damp In A New Property Is Essential

When you’re purchasing a new property there are a number of things that you should look at before putting in your final offer and going ahead with the purchase. Sometimes a HomeBuyers report may not always pick up things that could affect you in the future, so checking for damp and other issues yourself is also important. Checking the basement for any damp or mould is an essential aspect when it comes to searching for a new property throughout Europe, as damp can have serious implications in the future.

Damp In A Property

Damp within a property can cause a number of problems as years begin to go by, and because of this it is important that any damp is eradicated and your property has efficient damp proofing in place. Damp can not only cause significant structural problems throughout a new property, it can also have an impact on a person’s health so checking for signs is exceptionally important, so it can be removed quickly and efficiently by the experts. Many home inspectors will check typical elements within a building to ensure its safety but checking the dampness in a basement cannot always uncover all damp issues.

Common Causes Of Damp

There are a number of causes of damp depending on the type of damp that you are suffering with. Within a property, rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation are three of the most common causes of damp, but within a basement the most common cause is rising damp. A basement is generally a dank and dusky part of the building, and because of this, it is the perfect environment for moisture and moulds to grow. It is these moulds, along with dry rot and wet rot that can release pores into the atmosphere and it is these pores that can be dangerous to the health of people living within a property – particularly children and the elderly. In addition to this, the dry and wet rot that can form quickly when a basement is suffering from damp can affect the structure of the building and this will ultimately lead to the building being dangerous to live in as age goes on.

How To Check For Damp

You need to make sure that if you believe that there may be some form of damp in the European property that you are looking at, you seek a professional’s help. They can carry out an in-depth survey to determine the extent of the damp that you may not be able to see with the naked eye. Knowing how to deal with damp is important. Damp can be solved with a variety of treatments including a damp proof course, damp injection and basement waterproofing/cellar tanking, along with many more.

All of these treatments will aim to tackle the damp at the root cause of the problem, and provide a barrier to stop the damp from spreading further and causing more damage to a property. The basement can hold up an entire property and once weakened by damp and mould, this can have an effect on how dangerous the property is to live in. Knowing what you’re looking for when it comes to damp and having an expert surveyor visit your property in Europe can help to ensure that your property is safe and protected from damp.