Damp problems in garages

The problem of damp caused by water ingress

Damp caused by water ingress in buildings comes from roofs, courtyards or terraces, or even through the walls. Here we will focus on damp caused by lateral water ingress in the basements or garages of buildings, both old and modern, with a concrete structure.

Even when the correct construction techniques are used, we may encounter a series of problems caused by factors such as a high water/cement ratio, poor compaction, badly placed joint strips, shrinkage cracks or differential settlement, which lead to water ingress.

Damp caused by water ingress is made worse by the presence of groundwater, accidental water leaks from burst pipes, chemical attack on the concrete, etc.

The consequence is none other than structural degradation, rusting of the steel reinforcement, the breakdown of the render (the layer of mortar used to coat a wall), water entering the building and, of course, an unhealthy environment for people; in other words, these are construction defects that cause very serious problems.

The problem of rising damp

Rising damp occurs in walls that have not been properly insulated, with moisture rising from the subsoil. This moisture rises through pores and capillaries and finally evaporates into the atmosphere.

Water from the subsoil contains dissolved salts, so as the water evaporates the salts crystallise and are deposited in the render, which as a result deteriorates, as does the paint.

Many methods have been tried to conceal and prevent this type of damp by attempting to waterproof the walls and their surface. At best, they manage to hide the damp temporarily, but the real consequence is none other than a chimney effect that draws the damp even higher up the wall.

This does not solve the problem of damp in floors and walls; on the contrary, it makes it worse and makes the solution more expensive, because the problem has to be tackled all over again.

If your home or homeowners’ association suffers from damp caused by water ingress or rising damp, whether in homes, garages or other communal areas, you should know that this is a serious and costly construction defect. Get advice from expert architects and lawyers: ask us, with no obligation, about the steps to take, the costs and the legal viability of a claim.