Ventilation systems as an alternative to moisture-absorbing elements

Humidity is one of the main problems that can appear in a home as time goes by, and some materials such as waterproofing membranes, the brickwork of façade walls, or roof tiles begin to deteriorate. It is not a condition that only affects older homes.

On the contrary, defects in construction can also cause moisture in recently built buildings. Moisture-absorbing treatments can come in various types. One of them is the implementation of a Mechanical Ventilation System, which ensures air quality through two simultaneous actions: extraction of stale air from humid rooms and injection of filtered fresh air into dry rooms.

Moistures can be of three types depending on their origin:

• Condensation moisture: the occurrence of condensation moisture on ceilings and walls is associated with construction defects in the building's external closures or the roof, such as the absence of thermal insulation, vapor barriers or ventilated chambers. Due to temperature differences between the inside and outside of a home, in the absence of these elements, the moisture contained in the air appears when it finds a cold surface to condense on. The effect this type of moisture can cause is the appearance of mold stains, fungi or mites. These microorganisms increase the risk of allergies, asthma, or other moisture-related diseases.
  • Potential damage: intermediate
  • Elements or rooms where they usually appear: walls, floors and ceilings in contact with the roof, the façade or the ground on which the building stands.
  • Difficulty and cost of treatment: low

• Filtration moisture: occurs when the moisture from the ground seeps indoors through walls or slabs that are not properly waterproofed. When not treated in time, they can be dangerous because they can damage structural elements of the building such as load-bearing walls or columns, and even cause short circuits when the affected wall contains elements of the electrical installation.
  • Potential damage: severe
  • Elements or rooms where they usually appear: basement walls, garages, and cellars.
  • Difficulty and cost of treatment: high

• Capillary moisture: this type of moisture rises through the porous network that construction materials have inside them. Its occurrence is related to the absence of waterproof membranes in specific points of the building, such as skirting boards, connections between slabs or ground floor joists and the façade wall, or expansion joints. In an advanced phase, they produce the detachment of cladding materials and even moisture-proof paints. To prevent capillary moisture, it is necessary to use façade walls with a ventilated air chamber as well as the placement of less porous materials in the previous locations. Slate, granite, marble, or cement tiles are especially recommended for the formation of skirting boards due to their low porosity coefficient.
  • Potential damage: intermediate
  • Elements or rooms where they usually appear: inside façade walls, premises located on the ground floor, garages, and cellars.
  • Difficulty and cost of treatment: intermediate