There are many possible causes of damp walls : water infiltration, condensation, rising damp or capillary damp rising or capillary damp (migration of damp from the ground to the walls). Although the homes most affected by this problem are older houses, newer buildings can also be affected if the waterproofing, which acts as a capillary break between the foundations and the elevations, is faulty, non-existent or rendered obsolete by external alterations.
It’s important to treat walls as soon as the first signs of damp appear, because the consequences for a home can be disastrous as well as being harmful to health.
If the walls of a house are damp, the first thing you’ll notice is the aesthetic consequences. Whether on exterior walls , with the appearance of vegetation such as lichen or algae, or indoors, with the peeling of paint or wallpaper. This deterioration is accompanied by black stains and drips, saltpetre (whitish deposits) and mould.
However, these consequences are far from being purely aesthetic and are leading to new ones. As plants considerably increase the permeability of the materials affected, a vicious cycle begins.
As the weather gets colder, the water trapped in the walls can freeze and cause the material to crack. This is a veritable vicious circle that weakens the structure of the building, as the cracks allow water to seep in and expand again when it gets colder. Moisture can therefore have irreversible consequences for the solidity of a home’s foundations.
When walls are damp , there is arisk of attracting harmful organisms such as merula, a fungus nicknamed the “leprosy of houses”, which attacks wood and spreads right down to the foundations.
The humidity contained in the walls of a house will evaporate and greatly increase the humidity level of the air in living rooms. Temperatures will fall as a result, and the interior will have to be overheated to compensate for this thermal discomfort. The result will be excessive energy consumption coupled with a mouldy smell that will become omnipresent.
High humidity levels are often the cause of mould growth inside a home. Unhealthy housing can have adverse effects on health. The spores released by moulds are harmful to the lungs, causing respiratory problems, headaches, increased asthmatic symptoms, coughing and allergies.
To avoid these disadvantages, which can prove catastrophic in the long term, Groupe Berkem, specialists in the preservation of building materials, has created a complete range dedicated to the treatment of damp. XILIX BLOCKAQUA products create a waterproof barrier at the heart of the wall by means of long-lasting injection, which is effective even on waterlogged walls.