Moisture in walls, how to solve this problem?

The problem of moisture in walls is one of those headaches that can complicate us the most at home. Because the effects of the moisture in the home are visible, but sometimes difficult to resolve. Recognizing the problem is easy: unpleasant odors, deteriorated air quality, heat becomes more noticeable, and mold appears. In addition to being easily detectable, it is usually very unpleasant.

However, the problem we face with moisture in walls is that it is difficult to know where it comes from and what has caused this damage. Often, the reason for moisture problems is hard to find, unless holes are made or other methods that may end up being a remedy worse than the disease are used.

Moisture in walls can appear due to common situations such as rain filtering through or being absorbed from the ground. Another cause is condensation, and it can also appear due to leaks in the pipes. Lack of ventilation in the ceiling can be another problem. And that’s why it is important to first detect the source of that moisture before starting to act on it.

The unmistakable evidence that a problem exists is that the walls do not lie and look deteriorated due to the effects of moisture. If you see damage in the paint or the finishes of your walls, try to detect the problem and act accordingly.

How to solve moisture problems in walls?

Moisture in walls usually originates from a chronic condensation problem. When we see moisture or mold marks, it means the wall has become saturated due to an excess of water somewhere that has leaked, normally due to lack of ventilation. Although moisture can also appear due to defects in the building’s construction, such as having the foundations too close to a slope.

Many people mistakenly think that painting the walls solves the problem. What that can do is cause an increase in humidity by trying to hide the conflict. It would only work for a short period before the moisture returned to the same area. If the damage is visible in sinks or kitchens, before painting the walls, it is much more effective to ventilate the area.

Improve ventilation

In bathrooms, steam from the hot shower can be a cause of the appearance of moisture in walls. It can partly be noticed inside the bathroom, but often it tends to manifest on the same walls from the other side. Thus, if we find moisture in walls that separate the bathroom and other rooms, it is possible to know where the problem comes from.

Solving the problem with a bathroom extractor is a good option. Keeping the door open after showering and allowing the room to breathe is also highly recommended.

This problem can also occur in kitchens and in the walls separating this area from others. In these cases, what can be done is to use moisture-resistant paint specific for bathrooms and kitchens and not latex.

Use moisture-proof layers and re-plaster

Installing a continuous layer of moisture protection is a good solution. There are wall coating solutions, in addition to other more expensive options to apply directly to the bricks.

Before painting the affected area, it is better to replaster with a waterproof patch. Just applying plaster is not enough; some improvement that helps ventilate the wall and prevent water infiltration has to be implemented.

Avoid water leaks

Water when it rains can filter through the joints of the ceiling with the walls; thus, it is necessary to check them. There should also be no leaks in the pipes that channel rainwater outside the home. Likewise, the water supply connections should be tight and not leak. To avoid moisture in walls, it is necessary to check that there are no water leaks in all ducts.

Beyond all this, it will always be necessary to maintain good protection to prevent moisture in walls before it is necessary to combat it. Moisture-proof cladding materials and drainage systems to channel rainwater can help us. It is also beneficial to apply sealant in the joints of windows and doors.