Tag: damp walls

Why Wet Home and Office Walls Warrant Taking Immediate Action

Despite our rainy New England springs, and sometimes snowy winters, it’s not normal — or a good thing — if your South Shore home or office has wet walls, or if you’ve noticed new water stains or mold in your commercial or residential building. Sure, we’ve all experienced a fogged-up mirror or small droplets on the wall due to condensation left in the bathroom after a shower. But, such moisture should dry up within an hour or less, and your bathroom and kitchen should be the only rooms in your office or house where you experience such short-term moisture.
How To Know If Moisture Is Meddling With Your Residential or Commercial Property
In addition to having walls that are wet in appearance and touch, other signs your home or business has a moisture issue that needs to be addressed immediately include:
  • Wallpaper or wall paint that is peeling
  • Wall or ceiling stains from mold
  • Water stains on walls or ceilings
  • A musty smell or odor emanating from walls or ceilings
Why Even Your Bathroom Shouldn’t Be Bathed in Moisture
Damp, wet, or slick walls, that remain so, mean trouble for both your family’s or tenant’s health as well as your residential property’s or commercial property’s health. Mold can make both humans and pets sick. And, the longer it is left untreated, the more mold can spread — creating uninhabitable work and living spaces. Houses can literally be rendered unlivable by deadly mold that is not addressed. Plus, the cost associated with removing such mold grows exponentially along with the mold!
Common Sources of Home and Office Wall Moisture
Three of the most common sources of home and office wall moisture — and what causes them — include:
  • Inadequate drainage – Home or office dampness can stem from inadequate ground and surface drainage. Pooled water from saturated ground, downspouts, or runoff can find its way into your house or business via porous walls or cracks in your foundation.
  • Condensation – this occurs when hot, moist air hits cold, dry air — causing water droplets to form on cold surfaces, such as home and office walls. We’ve all noticed condensation in the bathroom or kitchen after a steamy shower or when the tea kettle’s been whistling
  • Leaks – this can be due to something as simple and noticeable as a leaky washing machine, dishwater, bathtub, or sink; something less obvious like roof-related leaks occurring in chimneys, vents, or skylights, or, from leaks associated with inadequate or deteriorating flashing on windows and doors; and from Mother-Nature-induced ice dams.

Why Temperature Discrepancies Can Spell Big Trouble

Many of the reasons past and new customers reach out to us at South Shore Roofing in winter months have to do with the colder temperatures we experience in the Greater Boston area. The huge difference between the temperature outside home and office buildings and the temperature inside can cause an abnormally large amount of condensation, causing walls to get and remain wet. This in turn leads to mold build-up and water and mold stains. In addition, as we discussed in our blog post about ice dams, such temperature contrasts (uneven temperatures) can occur within your home or office roof itself. The latter can also lead to leaks and water damage.

Our residential roofing contractor and commercial roofing contract experts can help you determine both the source of your wall moisture and the best way to treat it. For example, installing adequate roof ventilation in your home or office may help to control moisture levels and save you from needing a premature roof replacement. Or, perhaps, your home needs greater insulation.

Experiencing the “moisture meddling” signs we described above? Don’t try to solve or fix the problem yourself. Contact our team of professional home roofers and commercial roofers at South Shore Roofing today to ensure the good health of your family, tenants, employees, and that of your business property or residential property!