DAMP

There are 4 types of damp:

• Penetrating Damp
• Rising Damp
• Condensation
• Chemical Damp

Penetrating Damp is often associated with rain penetration. There are many other causes of this damp problem. If it is investigated early it is much easier/cheaper to correct. Usual symptoms are damp patches on internal walls in any area of the home – often causing paint to bubble and flake or wallpaper to peel. Penetrating damp unchecked can also effect the structure of the property and can also result in a wide range of other symptoms.

Rising Damp the most common form of problem damp in old Portuguese houses Because all the old Portuguese houses are built on the ground and very often the earth was not dug out to form a foundation. The houses were just built straight on the wet land which provides the perfect conditions for the damp to ride up the walls and destroy the plaster and any wood fixed to it.

Condensation damp: Humidity occurs in indoor environments due to building related causes. Porous walls, rising damp, and leaks in the building are determinants for structural dampness due to elevated humidity levels. Condensation is bad for the occupants health and the building fabric.

Chemical Damp is originally caused by condensation, penetrating damp or rising damp depositing salts on the surface of the walls or ceilings. These salts push off paint and are also likely to wick up humidity on the effected room making the problem worse.

If you have a Portuguese property that is suffering with damp Castelo Construction can help you with problem damp. If you would like advice on how to cure your damp or an estimate to make your home dry and comfortable – contact us now!

WOODWORM

If you own a property more than ten years old it’s no doubt showing the tell tale signs of wood boring insect attack somewhere.

You may have seen a pair of wood wasps literally chewing a hole big enough that you could put your finger into. Maybe you are kept awake at night by the crunching noises made by the death-watch-beetle?

Its time to talk to us about it!

Even if you don’t witness the more extreme symptoms of wood insect attack they could still be silently munching through your home.

It’s time to have a property inspection done before the timbers are too far gone to preserve.

If you are carrying out any refurbishment work it makes sense to have the timbers that you are leaving in place to be treated as a precaution against contaminating new timber that you are adding to your home. We can treat the new timber too before or after you install lt.

The product we use is very low smell, clear and lets you return to your home only an hour after treatment.

Wood worm as you have probably already heard is a major problem in old Portuguese houses. With a mixture of the right climate and unprotected wood used to build homes its wood worm heaven.

Wood worm control or prevention is a major concern to anyone spending money on refurbishing or building a home here in Portugal. With insects varying in size from the huge wood wasps to tiny wood boring insects such as Xestobium rufovillosum.

Once a support beam in a sheltered part of the house, usually the roof or floors is devoured by the wood boring insects the beam starts to sag or just crumbles resulting in dipping floors or roofs which let the rain in. Once the rain is allowed to contact the roof timber the mixture of dry rot and wood worm attack can result in a collapsed roof in a very short period of time.