The walls are wet: what could be the reason

It can be concerning to find moist or damp walls in your house. It’s an indication that something is off and requires your quick attention. Ignoring the problem could result in more significant issues down the road, like the growth of mold, structural damage, or even health risks for occupants. Prior to addressing the issue, it’s crucial to identify potential causes.

Your walls could be wet for a number of reasons, from small leaks to more significant underlying issues. It might indicate a concealed water leak or be as simple as condensation accumulating as a result of inadequate ventilation. Occasionally, the cause comes from the outside, such as broken gutters or exterior wall cracks that let rainwater in.

The first step in fixing the problem is figuring out what the root cause is. This post will discuss the typical causes of wet walls, how to spot them, and precautions you can take to avoid more harm. Timely resolution of the issue will safeguard your house and guarantee a hygienic living space.

What causes dampness and measures to combat it

Finding the source of the moisture is essential before taking any action when it appears in a home or apartment.

The table lists potential causes of the damp walls in the house, as well as symptoms and solutions for these issues:

  • Increase the heating of the room, but this increases the cost of heating, and the benefit will be questionable.
  • Perform external insulation of the walls of the house (see. How to insulate walls from the outside with mineral wool), for example, with polystyrene foam
  • If the wall is wet below, moisture can penetrate from the street through:
  1. basement;
  2. basement;
  3. floor.

Poor waterproofing in these areas is the cause of this.

  • Wet and foggy walls above, most often due to moisture getting through poor insulation from roof water
  • Determine the place where water is penetrating the inner surface of the wall.
  • Make better waterproofing or insulate the basement from the outside of the house, if the cause is in it.

Suggestion: Examining the house from the outside will yield more accurate results in determining the cause than trying to find it inside the room.

  • The likelihood of the walls getting wet is reduced by installing good ventilation and frequently airing the house
  • It is necessary to correctly calculate and arrange the ventilation system. The house needs good air circulation.
  • You can solve a local problem in certain places by removing objects that interfere with circulation

Advice: It’s normal for the walls to get wet right after renovations, even if they were dry before. This shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

The room should be well-heated in the winter and ventilated more frequently when repairs are being made. The walls in this instance will dry quickly.

Advice: In any event, you should address any moisture issues right away. The easier and quicker the issue is resolved, the easier and faster its effects can be removed.

Features of thermal insulation of your home

You need to install adequate thermal insulation throughout the house to put an end to the mystery of why the walls get wet in the winter.

Advice: The qualities of thermal insulation materials, as stated by the manufacturer, should be carefully considered when selecting them.

Insulating a private home’s walls from the outside has the biggest impact. Internal wall treatment is done because it is frequently not possible to insulate an apartment building’s walls from the outside. Proper work execution using high-quality materials followed by such processing will yield the intended outcome.

  • Particular attention should be paid to the water absorption coefficient, which determines the ability of the material used for thermal insulation to absorb moisture: with a decrease in this indicator, its water-repellent properties improve, which is very important when the walls are wet outside the house.
  • The thickness of the layer of material, used for insulation is selected depending on its density and thermal conductivity.
  • The smallest space will be occupied by insulation (see. Let"s consider in detail which insulation is better for walls), having a low thermal conductivity coefficient.
  • The flammability of the material is taken into account. The safest is insulation with class G1 – it does not burn without an open fire.

A thermal insulation material is chosen prior to insulating a wet wall.

  • The most popular insulation is mineral wool. But if the wall gets wet, you need to get rid of this problem first, insulating the wall with mineral wool, in this case will not be the best choice. Such material has too high a coefficient of water absorption.
  • If the facade is wet, it is better to use polystyrene foam for a brick wall. It is used for interior and exterior finishing. It has low moisture absorption, but the vapor permeability of the material is low and it does not promote free air circulation. When burning, it releases toxic substances into the atmosphere.
  • You can insulate the walls inside and outside the house with your own hands with "warm plaster". This is an excellent soundproofing material that does not absorb moisture and has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity.

The weight of the insulation is a drawback; a private home needs a reinforced foundation and the plaster layer should not be thicker than five centimeters.

  • Cork insulation is used for interior work. Its advantages:
  1. very low thermal conductivity coefficient, less than that of "warm plaster";
  2. light weight;
  3. convenient to use.

Drawback: extremely prone to burning.

How to insulate a house from the outside

The diagram in the picture illustrates how to insulate brick walls outside of a house, which produces the best results for private buildings.

Advice: Use "warm" plaster or foam plastic for this type of work.

Work instructions:

  • The brick wall is cleared of debris, dirt and dust.
  • A layer of leveling plaster is applied (see. How is plastering done on brickwork?.
  • The surface is primed.
  • Sheets of foam plastic are prepared, which can be glued or fixed to the wall with dowels.
  • When using glue, each sheet is carefully treated with the composition, placed against the wall and pressed well. The sheets are laid from below in a checkerboard pattern, moving the rows laid above relative to the previous ones. This arrangement of foam plastic increases the strength of the structure.
  • When attaching the material with dowels, glue is applied to the foam plastic pointwise, preferably along the entire perimeter and in the center. The sheet is lightly glued to the wall, holes are drilled in it into which fasteners are inserted.
  • After laying all the sheets in any way, the structure is fixed with reinforcing mesh and plastered.
  • Decorative finishing is carried out by painting or applying decorative plaster.

Applying "warm" plaster is a less complicated external wall insulation solution.

  • The surface to be treated is cleaned.
  • Primed.
  • Plaster mesh is attached.
  • Thermal insulation material is laid.
  • The plaster is left to dry.
  • The wall is decorated. For this you can use:
  1. tiles;
  2. decorative brick;
  3. paint.

Homes frequently experience wet walls, which can be caused by a variety of problems such as inadequate ventilation, plumbing leaks, or poor insulation. It’s critical to identify the underlying cause since too much moisture can result in the growth of mold, structural damage, and health issues. This article will assist you in determining the potential causes of wet walls and provide workable solutions to address the issue before it worsens.

How to insulate indoor walls

When a room has damp walls, this approach is better for apartment building occupants.

The following actions are taken for thermal insulation:

  • Cork.
  • Mineral wool.
  • Polystyrene foam.
  • "Warm" plaster.

The following factors are considered when selecting a material:

  • Wall dimensions.
  • Financial capabilities of apartment owners.
  • Safety. Using polystyrene foam for insulating interior wall surfaces is not recommended due to its increased fire hazard.

Phases involved in interior wall insulation:

  • Remove wallpaper, clean walls from dirt.
  • Surfaces are impregnated with primer.
  • A frame is mounted from wooden or metal slats with a step of elements of 40-60 centimeters.
  • The selected material is laid. In this case, the sheets should be as suitable as possible for the opening of the frame, if necessary, they are cut.
  • The resulting structure is sheathed with plasterboard.
  • The surface is plastered.
  • Decorative finishing of the wall is performed:
  1. wallpaper is glued;
  2. paint is applied.
Possible Reason Description
Poor Ventilation Lack of proper airflow can trap moisture inside, leading to damp walls.
Leaking Pipes A hidden pipe leak can cause water to seep into walls, making them wet.
Condensation When warm air meets a cold wall, it can condense and cause dampness.
Roof Issues Damaged or missing roof tiles can allow water to enter and dampen the walls.
Rising Damp Moisture from the ground can rise up through walls if the waterproof barrier is damaged.

Understanding the underlying causes of wet walls is the first step toward finding a solution, even though dealing with them can be a frustrating and expensive problem. Moisture problems are frequently caused by inadequate insulation, malfunctioning plumbing, or external building problems. Early detection of these causes can help stop additional harm from being done to your walls and the structural integrity of your house.

It’s critical to act quickly to address any indications of moisture. Ignoring the issue may cause materials to deteriorate, mold to grow, and even health problems. Maintaining your home’s insulation, making sure it is properly ventilated, and keeping an eye out for leaks are all important steps in keeping your walls dry and your living area healthy.

Consult a professional if you’re not sure where the moisture is coming from or how to solve it. You can address the issue head-on, safeguard your investment, and guarantee a comfortable living space with the appropriate strategy.

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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