Effects of Dampness

The several effects caused because of dampness in buildings are described below. All these effects majorly result in poor functional performance and ugly appearance and structural weakness of the buildings.

(a)        Dampness provides rise to breeding of mosquitoes and creates unhealthy living conditions for occupants.

(b)       Travel of moisture by walls and ceiling might cause flaking and bleaching of the paint that result in creation of colored patches on the wall ceilings and surfaces.

(c)        Presence of damp conditions causes efflorescence on building surfaces, that ultimately might result in the disintegration of bricks, stones, tiles and etc. and thus in the reduction of strength.

(d)       It might result in crumbling and softening of plaster. The wall decoration (i.e. painting etc.) is damaged, that is extremely hard and costly to repair.

(e)        The flooring gets loosened since of reduction in the adhesion while moisture enters by the floor.

(f)        Floor coverings are damaged on damp floors one cannot use floor coverings.

(g)       Timber fittings, such as doors, damp floors, windows, almirahs, wardrobes, while come in contact with damp walls, get deteriorated since of warping, buckling, dry rotting of timber.

(h)       Dampness accelerates and promotes growth of termites.

(i)        Electrical fittings get deteriorated, providing increase to leakage of electricity and consequent danger of short-circuiting.

(j)         Moisture causes corrosion and rusting of metal fittings attached to walls, ceilings and floors.

(k)       Dampness, while accompanied through the darkness and warmth, breeds the germs of neuralgia, tuberculosis, acute and chronic rheumatism etc. that, sometimes, result in fatal diseases. Occupants might even be asthmatics.