BUILDING DEFECTS-DAMPNESS

PRESENTED BY:
DHRUV BASU
K.V.ABHISHEK
SHAHEEN NAZIF
VATSALA SINHA
B.ARCH.5TH YR.
Dampness
Damp is a problem in
buildings. It can result in the
growth of moulds and fungi,
damage to the interior (and
exterior) decor, wood rot, and
ultimately damage to the
structure of the building.
Dampness occurs in
properties for a number of
reasons
1.Rising Dampness
Caused by the absence or breakdown of a
damp proof course or membrane.  It is
characterized by wet patches to ground
floors and walls with sometimes a white
powdery 'tidemark' deposit.

POWDERY
RESIDUE
2.Penetrating Dampness
• Caused by such things as old brickwork that
becomes porous, leaking roofs and gutters and
rotted windows and doors.
• Brickwork defects; Movement cracks can allow
water in through the outer skin of the wall.
• It is characterised by localised mould growth,
discolouration to internal decoration, peeling
wallpaper and sagging ceilings.
 localized mould
growth and
discoloration.

Patches with well

defined edges.
3.Condensation  
Condensation is a particular problem on cold days when
it causes water droplets to form on cold surfaces where
there is little air movement to dry it such as in corners,
behind furniture and inside wardrobes. 
The lack of air movement combined with the dampness
allows mould to grow on any absorbent surface such as
wallpaper, plasterwork but also clothing and bedding. 
How to avoid condensation?
There are three basic ways to avoid or reduce
condensation and its effects:
1.Produce less moisture
Cover steaming pots and pans and do not leave kettles
boiling .
Avoid using portable gas heaters because they
produce a lot of water vapor .
Do not dry washing indoors except in a room with the
window open.
 Always vent tumble dyers to the outside air.
3.Ventilate to expel moist air
Use mechanical extraction in the bathroom and
kitchen and keep the doors to these rooms closed
whilst in use and for a period afterwards .
Keep windows slightly open to aid air movement .
Leave wardrobe and cupboard doors ajar or cut
breather holes to aid air movement. 
 localized mould
growth and
discoloration.

Moisture patches
Dampness in Earth Walling
As the moisture level increases at the base, the load bearing
capacity of the wall is reduced at the very position where the
loading is greatest. 
 This can cause the wall to consolidate and spread, and the
render at the base to crack and spall. 
 Failure to attend to the problem is likely to result in the wall
eventually collapsing. 
 1 5
2

3 6

7
1.Moisture can find its way into the walls if the roof covering are
not adequately maintained, if the eaves overhang is insufficient,
or if gutters and down pipes (where needed) are neglected.

2.Cracks in the external 1

render will allow water 2
ingress.  Do not repair
cracks or replace
rendering with strong
cement based renders,
but instead use a lime
render matching the
original as closely as
possible.  Avoid using
mesh, such as chicken
wire or expanded
metal, in renders as
distance from the corner on
the adjoining elevation)
may be due to lateral 5
thrust from the roof
However, it may have
started soon after
construction as a result of
drying shrinkage, and
worsened subsequently 6
through weathering. 
Having eliminated the
causes of such cracking,
the walls can be stitched
across the can
6.Vegetation cracks using
be damaging, with roots
material closely
penetrating matchingthe earth walling.
and displacing
the original. 
Also, bees can cause severe pitting of the
the underpin course,
preferably at least 5
15Omm. In many cases,
over the years the ground
level has built up to an
unacceptable level. Care
must be taken when
remedying this situation to
ensure that the foundation
remains adequately 7
8.If the ground around
covered. Each case needs the building is
excessively damp and this appears to be
to be assessed on its own
adversely affecting the Poor and walls, some
merits.
form of ground treatment may be appropriate. 
This needs to be carefully designed to ensure
that drainage trenches and possible shrinkage
through drying of the ground do not threaten the
 Effect of Dampness:
Various effects (indirectly
defects) , cause due to dampness
in building , are mention below:
•A damp building creates
unhealthy living and working
conditions for the occupants.
•Presence of damp conditions
causes efflorescence on building
surfaces which ultimately results
in disintegration of bricks , stones
, tiles etc. and hence in the
reduction of strength.
It cause bleaching and flaking of paint
which results in formation of colored
patches on the wall surface.
It result in corrosion of metals used in
construction of building.
Timber when in contact with damp
conditions gets deteriorated due to the
effect of warping , buckling and rolling
of timber.
All electrical fittings get deteriorated
causing leakage of electric current with
the danger of short circuit.
Dampness promotes the growth of
termites and hence creates unhygienic
conditions in building.
Prevention of Dampness
1. Use of Damp-proofing Course: These are the
layers or membranes of water repellent
materials, such as Bituminous felts, Mastic
asphalt, Plastic sheets, Cement Concrete,
Mortar, Metal sheets, Slates, Stones, etc.
2. Waterproof (or Damp proof) surface treatment:
• The surface treatment consists in filling up the pores of the
material exposed to moisture by providing a thin film of water
repellent material over the surface.
• some of the material , as water proofing agent in surface
treatment are: Sodium or Potassium silicates, Aluminium or Zinc
Sulphates, Barium Hydroxide and magnesium sulphate.
3. Integral Damp Proofing treatment:
• The integral treatment consists adding certain compounds to
the concrete or mortar during the process of mixing, which
act as barriers to the moisture penetration.
• some of the compounds like chalk, talc, fuller’s earth, etc.
4. Cavity Walls (or Hollow Walls):
Cavity wall consists of three main parts,
namely..
1. the outer wall or leaf(100mm)
2. the cavity or air space of 50mm to 80mm,
and
3. the inner wall or leaf (min.100 mm in
thickness)

The provision of continuous cavity in the wall

efficiently prevents the transmission of
dampness from outer wall to the inner wall…
Case studies:
GDA Housing,Sector-23,Sanjay Nagar
,Ghaziabad
Residence of Mr.Vinod Sharma,R-14/37,Raj
Nagar,Ghaziabad.
Apeejay School of Architecture and Planning,
Management Block.