Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2015 / January 2016 | Page 118

Why so many

old properties

suffer from damp

B

uying an older property, be it a quaint
cottage or a grand period home, can
be a very exciting prospect. Maybe as
a holiday home, to get away from the hustle
and bustle of town life, or you may just
prefer the charms of an older style home.
But it should be known that maintaining
period cottages and houses will require
some understanding of the correct methods
and materials required for repairs and
future preservation.
Jamie Viney, the owner of Wight Heritage
118

www.visitilife.com

By Wight Heritage Preservation
preservation explains why damp problems
are so common in older homes, and how
to solve the problems that these issues can
cause.
First and foremost, older buildings need
to breathe and be able to release built up
moisture. This is where traditional lime
mortars and renders, rather than common
cement, is required. In cases where cement

has been used, you may find that the faces
of the stone or brickwork have crumbled
away. This is known as spalling. During the
winter months the damp area freezes and
causes the masonry to delaminate, due to
the cement pointing trapping the moisture
within the masonry.
It wasn’t until the late 19th century that
cavity walls were used during construction.
These can also become blocked and cause
dampness to track across to the internal
walls. Concrete floors can also see internal