prevent

Interior Construction- Things To Consider To Prevent Rotting

by

Damp, mould, condensation and wood rot are all common occurrences in homes and can arise for several different reasons. This may be due to poor build quality, lack of building maintenance or the deterioration of building fabric. Reasons that may cause these problems could be from leaking pipes, damaged window frames or even damaged drainage all of which should not be overlooked.

If you have a cellar or basement damp, mould and wood rot can affect the whole room as these rooms were never designed for modern living. Cellar and basements can quite commonly suffer from severe rising damp and even flooding which means they are never used to their full potential, companies like Kenwood can provide cellar tanking which enable basements and cellars to be transformed into a suitable damp and rot free living space.

Waterproofing Cellars

Although you may not need to convert your cellar into a living space you will still need it to be waterproof in order to prevent any damages such as mould, rotting and damp that can occur. Waterproofing can also increase the value to your home and open up options in the future for you or other potential buyers. If your cellar or basement has correct treatment in place it can be used as an effective storage area and even be transformed into another room.

As cellars and basement are typically below ground level and the earth surrounding the rooms act as a route for water to enter through the walls, and in order to prevent this from happening, the walls must be fully waterproofed and secure. There are several ways in which this can be done but you will need the help of a professional. By sealing the walls using a surface coating known as wet cellar tanking or a membrane system it will allow for your cellar to be protected.

Tanking Systems

Tanking systems are one of the most popular methods to ensure your basement or cellar is waterproof. They work by applying a waterproof coating directly to the inside of the porous cellar walls to prevent any moisture from seeping in. This system however does not remove the water but simply creates a barrier between the two. In order for this system to be effective the walls that the tanking is being applied must provide a good base coat. Before the tanking system is applied they require the brickwork of the house to be stable due to the fact that tanked walls need to resist water pressure that will build up over time. If you home is an older build the walls will need to be prepared and it can be rather time consuming. If there are weaker points in the structure typically in the walls or floor, attention will have to be paid.

Membrane Systems

The other method used by professionals on cellar conversions, and are highly advised for areas with high water tables and on older properties as they do not rely on substrates for their effectiveness is a membrane system. The majority of these systems involve studded membranes and are fixed to the walls with plastic plugs. These systems allow water to flow down within the cavity created to the floor which will also be covered with a membrane and into a drainage system. Membrane systems means an air created gap is created, which acts as a depressurisation zone for any water that comes through the walls. When the water enters, under great pressure it loses its force and falls behind the membrane into the drainage and the water flows out. Ultimately these systems will add to the floor height of the cellar, reducing ceiling space. If you have a basement or cellar, professionals will consult with you on the best system for your house.

Effective Ways To Prevent Home Heating Loss

by

HVAC systems are quite useful for a home. They will add comfort and value by maintaining a proper room temperature during a colder month. The problem is that you cannot simply install the system and forget it. Eventually you will have to contact professionals like at http://accuservheating.com/ to get some repairs done. While there is not much that you can do about that, you can always make sure that the strain on the system is low. You do this by preventing home heating loss.

Draft Elimination

If you want to keep energy bills low, it is important to find ways in which warm air will remain inside the home while you keep cold air out. You do this by getting rid of the drafts that come from holes present in the roofs or from the gaps you see under your door. Various modern draft excluders exist on the market at the moment. They are inexpensive and pretty simple to install.

Is Your Chimney Suitable?

Homeowners generally do not know that open fireplaces are going to drastically hurt their saving efforts. You want to be sure you have a chimney balloon of a good quality and that it is installed by someone that really knows what he is doing. Taking this approach will guarantee that hot air is not going to leave the home through a fireplace. When lighting fire you need to remove this balloon though.

Reflective Radiators

A radiator that includes reflectors keeps heat inside rooms while preventing losses that would appear through walls. Heaters with reflectors will mean that HVAC systems do not have to run for that long. Hot air is going to be confined. Similarly to the hot air chimney balloon, skilled professionals should install these.

Wall Insulation

Around 30% of the heat loss that appears in a home happens through walls. You want to get rod if this through a review of the wall’s insulation. When wall insulation is moist or does not exist, cavity wall insulation projects will be so much more helpful to reduce heating costs than you may think. Modern wall insulation uses materials that are pretty expensive. However, this investment is one that will pay itself.

Heavy Drape Use

The heavy drape will curtail hot air losses from rooms as weather conditions are cold while also helping by absorbing sunlight. Such curtains will block wind and cracks are not going to be a problem anymore around window edges. The drapes are now available in various designs and sizes. That will surely suit your preferences and needs.

Keep Your Doors Closed

Last but not least, this is the simplest thing that you could do. Just keep doors shut as the appliances are on. That will drastically reduce heating costs. If the HVAC systems work while the doors are open, they will find it much harder to properly heal the home. The system is forced to work hard in order to keep homes warm. When doors are closed there is no extra unnecessary heat loss that appears.