Living in Britain, we’re no strangers to wet weather. Other than severely wounding the reputation of the climate in this country, our famously high levels of rain can also harm our property. With rain comes increased moisture, and with moisture comes damp – an issue that can affect homes of any age or size, causing lasting damage if not attended to as a matter of urgency.
There are ways of going about preventing damp proactively, however, with one of the main ways of keeping moisture at bay by selecting the correct materials from which to build our homes from in the first place. While it remains true that damp has other causes (leaking pipes, poor insulation, holes in the roof and weak windows are just a few of the issues to keep an eye out for) that require their own remedies, by taking the time to select the correct materials during construction, you can severely lessen the likelihood of your home being affected.
Materials to Consider?
Less about whether or not your home is built from brick or stone, and more to do with the material that lines the inside of your walls, new builds that aren’t properly insulated and lined are the most susceptible to damp over time. While it’s obviously more intelligent to build your home from longer lasting, hard waring and less porous materials, there’s far more to it than just making the structure sound from the outside.
For example, one of the leading brands in the construction board field, Fermacell, manufacture a variety of products specifically designed with aiding new build development in mind. Around for over 40-years, they specialise in dry lining building materials, with their newest technology – a cement-based board they call the Powerpanel H2O – an ideal choice where keeping damp at an arm’s reach is concerned. Suitable on both domestic and non-domestic properties, the level of innovation that goes in to these materials that very few of us are ever likely to see is genuinely fascinating.
On top of that, by ensuring you have thick, well fitted double glazed windows throughout the house, matched with well-sealed and weather proof doors at every exit, you’re covering your back where any future issues may be concerned. While it may cost more up front to use specialist and high-quality materials, in the long run, it could end up saving you money if they do their job and stop any need for costly future emergency repairs, not to mention the peace of mind they provide, with you safe in the knowledge that there’s nothing more you could’ve done to protect yourself.
What Materials Should You Consider Building with to Combat Damp?