How to deal with damp in your house
January 10, 2011
Living in a damp house can pose serious health hazards and hence one must take immediate steps to treat and cure dampness when encountered. A damp house can give rise to respiratory problems and also encourage the emergence of moulds and mites that can create a very unhealthy environment for one to live in. There can be various kids of dampness like rising dampness, penetrating dampness or plain condensation. Rising dampness is caused when water from the ground enters a home via capillary action. This is characterized by decaying skirting boards, peeling wallpaper, decaying timber floors, discoloration and staining. Penetrating dampness is caused by water leaking from defective gutter or down pipes, faulty flashings and cracked rendering. In this case you will see damp patches on walls, floors and ceilings. Condensation is the most common cause of dampness in a house and is caused by water from the air. Poor heating and improper ventilation are responsible for condensation in most cases.
Here are some tips that can be followed to deal with dampness in an effective manner:
Rising Dampness- The main reason for this kind of dampness to develop is the lack of an effective physical damp proof course in the wall or floor. Depending on the level of rising damp there are various methods to treat. In the case of heavy dampness the house will need to be first professionally dried with industrial heaters. After this the damaged materials will need to be replaced and reinforced. A lot of companies provide chemical spray treatments that soak into your walls and prevent any moisture from entering the same. The other option is to look at the plastic sheeting called the damp-course that is placed under the bottom of your brickwork and see if it is damaged. If so, get it repaired.
Penetrating Dampness- The first step in this case is to examine and check everything in and around the property like gutter pipes, down pipes etc. This kind of dampness is caused by water getting in from outside so check thoroughly for any leaks of any kind. If you find one, get it fixed as soon as possible. Make sure that the rendering isn’t cracked; also check doors and windows for any gaps around the frames. Sometimes rainwater can get accumulated in these gaps and seep in through the walls. In case your exterior brickwork has become porous, application of exterior waterproofing fluid will be useful.
Condensation- To prevent dampness arising out of condensation you need to ensure that the level of moisture in the air is not excessive. Here are a few steps that can be undertaken:
Do not dry clothes inside the house as loss of moisture from the clothes will float in the house.
Try and ventilate the room to the outside after having a bath or a shower. The best thing to do is to open the bathroom window and close the door so that all the extra moisture travels out and not into the house.
Poor heating is a cause of condensation especially gas heaters etc. Invest in a good form of heating for your home. This has long-term benefits.
Put in an extractor fan that has an air-moisture switch. This automatically starts functioning and pumping extra moisture out when it detects it in the air. Invest in a good dehumidifier. They are very helpful in getting rid of the extra moisture in the air. Dealing with dampness is a common issue for a lot of people but thankfully the abovementioned remedies can provide a great deal of relief from the same.
Choosing the right colour for your home
January 4, 2011
Choosing a paint colour for the interior of your house can be a very challenging job. The reason for this is the fact that not only is there a wide variety of colours and shades to choose from but there is also the fact that because every home is different, one colour that looks good in one may not really suit the other. Choosing a paint colour eventually is a matter of personal choice and preference but some guidelines can be followed to make the job slightly easier.
Firstly, decide what sort of look you are looking for? What kind of effect are you hoping to achieve? This could range from light and harmonious to bold and striking, from conservative to over the top. Usually the colours in a home represent the personality of it’s inhabitants so that needs to be taken into consideration while choosing the right colour. Also, the other thing to consider here is whether the whole house is going to be of one colour or each room will have a separate theme.
Once you have decided on the abovementioned, the next step is to take some inspiration from your home interiors to decide what sort of colour scheme you are going to choose. The colour of the furnishings and permanent furniture are usually the points of reference that are used by most people. The colour of the carpet also needs to be considered as a matching point. Other than this there are some other things are the natural as well as the artificial lighting in the room and also the total area of the room. Bear in mind that light colours will make a room look bigger and create an illusion of space whereas a dark paint colour will have the reverse effect. If you are fond of dark colours then a good option is to have one feature wall in a dark colour and the rest can be light. This should help you in achieving a dramatic effect if you’d like that.
After you have reached a point where you now have a general idea about the colour theme you want to use, the next step is to go out there and see what is available. Most paint companies have colur swatches and also colour test pots for you to bring home and try on small areas. A paint colour might look different when it is wet than when it is dry so it is a good idea to test it first just to make sure it is the one that you want. If you are going for more than one colour in a room then test them against one another to make sure that they will look good. Remember, the more hard work you put in now, the better results you will get later on. Also, it will be beneficial to get some paint advice over the counter from a paint shop or maybe even utilize the services of a paint co-ordinator.
Before you make a final decision on what colour to choose it is advisable to know that dark colours fade quicker than light colours but absorb more heat as compared to light colours. Also, if the ceiling of the room is low than it will be better to paint it in a lighter colour. For a high ceiling you can go for a darker shade. The extent of the area to be painted determines the total effect of the paint colour, so size of the room is a big consideration.
Finally, the last thing you need to decide upon is the kind of finish you would like. You can choose either glossy, semi- glossy or matt.
These tips should prove helpful for you in choosing the right colour for you much loved home.