Damp in Paraguayan houses is one of the most honest complaints there is: a wall that weeps, a wardrobe that smells, a ceiling that stains. Sometimes it is a site error. Sometimes it is a lot that will not drain. This piece does not sell a miracle product. It orders causes a client can ask about before the fungus reaches the family chat.
Key points
- First the water that enters, not the paint that hides it: Blocked gutters, a bad slab junction, a patio falling the wrong way, a tap dripping toward the wall.
- The lot and the slab: damp that rises: Low land, poorly compacted fill, missing barrier, stormwater sitting against the wall.
- Roof, eave and a storm at midday: A leak does not always look like a film.
- Ventilate, do not only cool: Very glazed contemporary houses, no cross-breeze, blind bathrooms and wardrobes on cold walls: vapour stays.
- What to ask on a visit and at pre-handover: Where stormwater leaves, how the gallery junction is done, what happens in the windowless bathroom.
First the water that enters, not the paint that hides it
Blocked gutters, a bad slab junction, a patio falling the wrong way, a tap dripping toward the wall. Before talking about “rising damp” as a myth, walk the house the day after rain. Painting a symptom is October’s temptation. Fixing the entry of water is craft. If the team only offers a paint hand, ask what was investigated.
The lot and the slab: damp that rises
Low land, poorly compacted fill, missing barrier, stormwater sitting against the wall. Ask street level versus house level, and how water leaves the plot. On a lakeside residence, the handsome landscape and wet soil coexist. The design has to choose junctions that can dry.
Roof, eave and a storm at midday
A leak does not always look like a film. Sometimes it stains a corner two days later. If there is a ceiling stain, do not start with filler. Start above, with someone who climbs. Ask for the diagnosis in writing.
Ventilate, do not only cool
Very glazed contemporary houses, no cross-breeze, blind bathrooms and wardrobes on cold walls: vapour stays. A cool house is not a sealed house. If the brief includes a lot of storage, it must also say how those rooms breathe.
What to ask on a visit and at pre-handover
Where stormwater leaves, how the gallery junction is done, what happens in the windowless bathroom. At pre-handover, smell wardrobes and north corners. Damp is discussed early. Late, it is discussed with a roller in hand.
Terms in this article
- pre-handover
- Final site review before delivery: snags, tests and documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What does "First the water that enters, not the paint that hides it" mean for your project?
Blocked gutters, a bad slab junction, a patio falling the wrong way, a tap dripping toward the wall. Before talking about “rising damp” as a myth, walk the house the day after rain. Painting a symptom is October’s temptation. Fixing the entry of water is craft. If the team only offers a paint hand, ask what was investigated.
What does "The lot and the slab: damp that rises" mean for your project?
Low land, poorly compacted fill, missing barrier, stormwater sitting against the wall. Ask street level versus house level, and how water leaves the plot. On a lakeside residence, the handsome landscape and wet soil coexist. The design has to choose junctions that can dry.
What does "Roof, eave and a storm at midday" mean for your project?
A leak does not always look like a film. Sometimes it stains a corner two days later. If there is a ceiling stain, do not start with filler. Start above, with someone who climbs. Ask for the diagnosis in writing.
What does "Ventilate, do not only cool" mean for your project?
Very glazed contemporary houses, no cross-breeze, blind bathrooms and wardrobes on cold walls: vapour stays. A cool house is not a sealed house. If the brief includes a lot of storage, it must also say how those rooms breathe.
What does "What to ask on a visit and at pre-handover" mean for your project?
Where stormwater leaves, how the gallery junction is done, what happens in the windowless bathroom. At pre-handover, smell wardrobes and north corners. Damp is discussed early. Late, it is discussed with a roller in hand.
Next step
Late, it is discussed with a roller in hand. To apply this to your case, you can talk to MU with the lot and brief on the table.
