Mould is one of the most common allergy triggers for asthma.
Sub floor ventilation is inadequate.
This is because poor ventilation in the sub floor results allows humidity to build up.
High moisture levels in these areas promote fungal decay and other timber pests such as termites.
Inadequate sub floor ventilation is a major cause of rising damp.
Signs of inadequate sub floor ventilation.
Inadequate underfloor ventilation can lead to an accumulation of moisture in the sub floor meaning mould rotting and structural weakness.
Importance of under floor ventilation.
Common signs of a lack of sub floor ventilation include.
When you see grass and other vegetation growing from inside the wall or soil building up it is a clear indication of an underlying problem with sub floor ventilation.
It also contributes to respiratory problems and illnesses.
Sub floor ventilation under your home can be hindered if the area has become too small has been blocked by new concrete slabs inadequate amount of external vents or blocked external vents.
You can usually identify rising damp by a tide mark on the lower part of affected walls.
Due to the enclosed foundations with dwarf walls and solid internal walls it is usually difficult to access the subfloor area.
Insufficient subfloor ventilation can lead to higher moisture levels in the unprotected underside of flooring general dampness in the house and other problems such as cupping of the top surface of floorboards due to a lower moisture content on the upper surface than the lower surface of the boards.
If ventilation is poor a quick inspection of the vents can sometimes reveal why.
Unfortunately poor subfloor ventilation can also effect your health.
How sub floor ventilation systems work.
The most basic sub floor ventilation are vents built in when the house is constructed.
Some buildings have very little subfloor ventilation.
There is nowhere for the excess moisture to go so the damp rises up the walls.
Most older houses that have suspended wooden floors are the main buildings where we encounter ventilation problems.
A sub floor is the structure and crawl space between the lowest floor and the ground.
Where there is inadequate air flow and therefore poor ventilation the air flow may need to be forced using a professional underfloor fan.
Sub floor ventilation is inadequate which may have allowed defects to occur.
If you enter a building and you smell a musty odour it may be because of a sub floor ventilation problem.
Even worse killing mould can be extremely difficult.
This in turn can cause structural and health problems for the home and it s occupants.