The problem of dampness inside buildings : assessment of a typical terraced house

Abstract

Based on a practical assessment of a privately-owned terraced house which typifies numerous other local indoor environmental conditions prevailing in both private and public housing, not mentioning other buildings which are highly susceptible to building design and detailing defects, having high occupancy rates, this work gives an insight to the problem of dampness inside buildings. Covering, through a logical sequence, the various sources of dampness, that of rain penetration, rising damp and condensation, and working within the local context of influences arising from established building methods of design and construction and use of material, this work identifies the major building defects causing dampness, puts forward remedial treatment with minimum effort and cost, while always referring to standard methods of construction design and detailing.