Why Do I Have Damp Patches on My Ceiling After Heavy Rain?

After an intense rainstorm, you may discover damp patches on your ceiling that are unsightly and cause concern. If this is the case, a local roofer will be help to help restore it.

Next, it is essential that you address and repair the source of water spots so they do not recur and create more damage or mould/mildew issues. Doing this may prevent further problems with mould/mildew growth as well.

Penetrative Damp

Penetrating damp is caused by rainwater entering through cracks in exterior walls or render, seeping in through tiny spaces between them and saturated the materials within, leading to extensive structural damage to a property.

Damp can be particularly hazardous to homes, as it can pollute walls with hygroscopic salts that attract and store water molecules – creating an ideal breeding ground for mould growth and damp issues in buildings.

As the first step to combating penetrating dampness, it is wise to assess your home and identify its source. It may be something as straightforward as cracked gutters or more complex such as missing brickwork.

Rising Damp

Rising damp happens when water penetrates porous building materials such as bricks, similar to how oil travels up through wicks on lamps. Although rare, rising damp requires accurate diagnosis in order to be resolved successfully.

Construction projects that include low level brickwork require installing a damp proof course in the mortar joints to prevent water travelling between bricks and causing rising damp. Faulty damp proof courses are the main cause of rising damp in older buildings; however poor drainage is also often to blame.

Reducing damp proof course damage or clearing away debris that has built up over it are often sufficient solutions. Additionally, new systems of plasterboard and insulation board that will eliminate this problem without needing brick repairs could provide another viable solution.

Condensation

Condensation occurs when water vapour in the air comes in contact with cold surfaces and condenses into droplets forming water droplets, an essential process of the water cycle.

Condensation occurs when there is a large temperature difference between inside and outside your home that allows moisture to build up on interior walls. This could happen from factors like hot baths, cooking or your heating system running.

Damp patches on your ceiling following heavy rainfall could be due to any number of issues related to leaks, so it is crucial that when they appear you take immediate action as this could indicate larger problems that compromise the structural integrity of your home and may lead to flooding.

Frustrating damp patches on your ceiling can be very aesthetically unpleasing and can even lead to mould growth within. Whatever issue you are facing, our Sevenoaks roofers can help.

Mould

After several days of heavy rainfall, we often receive inquiries regarding damp spots on walls. These could be signs of penetrating dampness, condensation or rising dampness and could require professional assessment and treatment to assess and address accordingly.

Mould is one of the primary causes of moisture issues, but it could also stem from roof leakage or inadequate insulation in the ceiling cavity.

Mould spores exist naturally in the air, but they only become active if provided the opportunity to grow in an enclosed space with adequate moisture levels.

Mould can grow on any material from walls and wood to stone and masonry; all they require for growth are moisture and carbon source (usually wood) to survive and proliferate. They often emit an unpleasant musty odour when growing, creating an unpleasant musty stench when in their full force.

A colony of mould spores is much too small to see without the aid of a microscope, but when enough spores combine together to form a mould, a large area of surface will become covered with a fungus that will appear as black, green, brown or grey. The colour will depend on the nutrient source and the age of the colony.

There are fungi in every nook and cranny on earth except in water, parts of the Arctic and Antarctic, and in clean rooms. They are one of the most important biological processes in nature, and play a key role in recycling.

When we have a damp building, there are a number of signs that the problem is not solved and should be addressed as soon as possible.

Read our other article: How Do I Stop My Roof Leaking in Heavy Rain?