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Home > Moisture
1. The infiltrations of pluvial origin
A porous masonry damaged by frost, a cracked conduit, defective joints, a missing tile, a perforated platform, a cracked drainpipe or cornice, a defective chimney, are all possibilities for infiltration that it will be necessary to identify exactly.
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2. The phenomena of condensation
The pervading air circulating in a building contains water vapour that it releases during cooling in the form of water in the real sense of the word (condensation). The temperature, at which condensation forms, is called the "dew point". This is identical to droplets of water looking like dew, that form on cold surfaces such as window panes or outside walls. Sometimes the condensation that forms on a wall causes wet spots that one easily sees but one would be wrong to impute this to rising humidity. Naturally, added to rising humidity, the condensation will increase the degree of humidity inside the building which, in its turn, could intensify the risks of condensation. This phenomenon became more marked since the 70's when because of the oil crisis, the population has tended to " over insulate " their houses.
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 3. Lateral infiltrations
This concerns humidity provoked by an exterior ground level that is higher than the level of the ground of the interior. The presence of this ground against the wall provokes lateral thrusts, which saturate the walls with water and sometimes bring about, especially in cellars, internal runnels.
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 4. Capillary rising
Almost all masonry in contact with the ground is subjected to the phenomena of capillarity provoking rising humidity. This passes through the foundations, rises through the walls and leads to a lack of adhesion of the filler at the level of the baseboards of the first floor. One can notice that even very slightly porous materials, such as blue stone, porphyry, silicate gravel are affected by this type of humidity by means of the mortar which acts as vehicle of distribution.
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 5. Hygroscopic salts
Rising humidity does not limit itself to a simple introduction of water when it crosses the walls, through to the plaster. In fact, it also transports salts some of which are hygroscopic (that is to say absorbing the humidity of the air), that was captured in the ground and in the masonry. This disastrous effect can be aggravated when the masonry is or was in contact with hygroscopic salts, as well as nitrates, chlorides and in a lesser measure sulphates.
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Pay attention to the related problems created by humidity!
 • The presence of humidity has consequences on the thermal insulation of your house : your energy invoice therefore risks being seriously increased!
• Humidity, associated with darkness, creates the ideal conditions for the development of dry rot.
• Did you know that termites particularly appreciate the combination humidity + heat?
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