How Damp Proofing Can Protect Your House Structure

The #1 thing that destroys houses is simply time. Or, specifically, it’s the environment with the addition of time. This is the exact reason why abandoned buildings fall apart. With no one around to mitigate the damage done by the environment, they simply fall apart. Do you want to protect your house structure from the environment and minimize the amount of upkeep it needs to remain its best? Damp proofing is exactly what you need. Now let’s jump into why!

Ground Moisture Destroys Foundations

You might expect rain and wind to be the biggest environmental opponents your house has to withstand. However, the real opponent is much more insidious. Wind and rain can do a great deal of damage to parts of your house that are cosmetic or easily replaced. However, ground moisture has a much bigger impact on your house structure. The parts of your house that are hurt by ground moisture are difficult, or even impossible, to fix once damaged.

Let’s look at your foundation, for example. The foundation of your house is possibly the most important part of it, structurally. Without the foundation, your house would only last a few years before succumbing to moisture damage, ground shifting, and more. After a few years, any foundation will begin to get microscopic cracks in it. These are no big deal with they’re small. They show up from the earth around the foundation shifting slightly with each passing year. The changes are so small that their effect is really very small.

However, when these tiny cracks appear in your foundation, it creates a place for moisture to hide. The moisture in the ground around your foundation will seep into those cracks and make them worse. There are 2 ways they do this:

1. The moisture flowing from crack to crack erodes the foundation the same way a river can create The Grand Canyon.
2. Changes in temperature lead to that moisture expanding and contracting, which forces the cracks to widen and spread.

Damp proofing your home is the most effective solution to prevent this damage. By adding a protective layer, you can stop moisture from penetrating the foundation. Wondering what is damp proofing in building construction? It is a method used to shield the structural elements from ground moisture, preserving the integrity of your home. Proper damp proofing ensures that these microscopic cracks won’t turn into a major issue over time.

Structural Integrity

As you can imagine, the faster your foundation deteriorates, the faster other parts of your house structure do. For example, a damaged foundation makes it harder to protect your house structure from mold.

Houses with basements will experience the same struggle with basement walls as they do with their foundation. The difference is, the cracks in your basement walls will easily reach all the way through. This can lead to basement moisture problems and mold.

Mold is a particularly dangerous thing to allow a foothold. Once mold growth begins in your home, it’s very hard to get rid of. This is especially true when mold manages to make its way into your house structure, such as the wooden framework. It’s nearly impossible to protect your house structure and framework from mold once it’s taken hold. The best way to protect your house structure is to prevent damage to your foundation and basement walls before it happens.

By damp proofing for houses, you not only avoid structural problems but also protect your home from harmful mold growth. How damp proofing protects house structures is by sealing off potential entry points for moisture. This process ensures that your home’s framework stays dry and mold-free, providing long-term benefits for your health and the stability of your house. With proper moisture protection for house foundations, you can effectively reduce the chances of mold taking root.

A Long Lasting Home

If you want to keep your foundation and basement walls from falling victim to moisture damage, it’s time to look at how damp proofing can protect your house structure. Damp proofing creates a barrier between your foundation and the ground, keeping water and moisture from reaching it in the first place. Leaquida Waterproofing does damp proofing for the entire Toronto area, and we can do it for you too. Give us a call if you want your home’s structure to remain its best.

But how effective is damp proofing in the long run? You might ask, how long does damp proofing last? On average, a well-applied damp proofing system can last up to 25-30 years, depending on factors like soil conditions and maintenance. Although the initial cost may vary, how much does damp proofing a house cost will ultimately be much less than the expenses associated with repairing structural damage. Investing in damp proofing your home now will pay off in the future by ensuring your home remains protected for decades to come. The benefits of damp proofing for building protection far outweigh the risks of not taking preventive measures.

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