Prolonged dampness in a building can cause various defects in the building. Apart from creating unhealthy living conditions, dampness also affects the structure.
Dampness gives rise to breeding of mosquitoes and create unhealthy living conditions.
Travel of moisture through walls and ceiling may cause unsightly patches.
Moisture travel through walls may cause softening and crumbling of plaster, especially lime plaster.
Continuous presence of moisture in the walls may cause efflorescence resulting in disintegration of bricks, stones, tiles, etc., and consequent reduction in strength.
The flooring gets loosened because of reduction in the adhesion when moisture enters through the floor.
Timber fittings, such as doors, windows, almarahs, wardrobes etc., coming in contact with damp walls, damp floors may get deteriorated because of warping, buckling, dry-rotting of timber.
Electrical fittings get deteriorated, giving rise to leakage of electricity and consequent danger of short circuiting.
Floor coverings are damaged. On damp floors, one cannot use floor coverings.
Dampness promotes and accelerates growth of termites
Dampness along with warmth and darkness breeds germs of dangerous diseases such as tuberculosis, neuralgia, rheumatism etc. Occupants may even be asthmatic.
Moisture causes rusting and corrosion of metal fittings attached to walls, floors and ceiling.
Last modified: Wednesday, 29 February 2012, 5:18 AM
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