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Home & Garden Articles
Rising Damp - Moisture And Termites
Sat 30 Dec 2006 - 05:03
Rising Damp - Moisture And Termites
By Joe Ovidi
In my 16 years experience treating and repairing damage, I still wonder
how much of it could have been be avoided. Much of it can with simple steps, as in regular inspection for rising damp/termites, and good
sub-floor ventilation.
The moment you suspect any thing awry, action is required urgently by experts
in this field. When house construction was carried out in the 1930's -
1970's, damp course membranes were mainly of slate, and flexibility was non-existent. Now we see rising damp and termite problems occurring
frequently.
The current Australian standards allow for better construction methods, and so we
are getting better control and warnings of these problems before they occur.
It is a great advantage stopping or preventing damage before it gets out of hand.
Three Vital Steps You Can Do To Minimize Damage To Your Home
1. Have an expert come to inspect your wall moisture levels using a
moisture meter. This will detect rising damp.
2. Get an inspection carried out for termites by a qualified
home builder who is also a licenced timber pest inspector. An added advantage if they are members of
the Master Builder's Association (M.B.A.) or Housing Industry Association
(H.I.A.)
3. Once any problem has been identified, take action as soon as possible and
arrange for protection.
If poor ventilation is identified as been the problem, subfloor fans may need
to be installed to allow for correct air flow. If its termites, a chemical
barrier may be needed, or a baiting system may be recommended. Termite
baits help identify activity of termites on your site, alongside of regular
inspections. They do NOT attract termites, they intercept them BEFORE they
get a chance to enter your home.
One client I recall had called me to check to see why all her clothes were
covered in mold. Upon entering her house I noticed a musty smell. I
advised that I cut a floor trap for inspection access to her subfloor.
When I got under her house, I noticed 300ml of water! The substructure timbers
had decayed extensively from excessive moisture. When I came out from
under the house, she wondered why I was soaked in water. I replied, "I
didn't know you had a in-ground pool!
It turned out my client had been living with mold for eight years and didn't
think much of it. In conclusion, we organised a plumber improve drainage,
our firm installed a ducted subfloor fan system with a rectified damp-course.
About six months later we reinspected the subfloor and it was completely dry.
The skill of inspections and moisture meter readings is a science of
interpretation, so experience by the contractor is in these fields are vital.
Only choose a home builder and termite inspector who can show proof of their
qualifications and experience.
Sydney Building Repairs supply the following services:
Termite Inspections
Subfloor Ventilation
Damp-Course Remedial Work
Waterproofing &.General Building Repairs
Article by Joe Alexander Ovidi, Member M.B.A., H.I.A.,
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Ovidi
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