2.6 DAMPNESS
Dampness is a problem that occurs in many buildings, both old and new, and it is a continual source of annoyance and expense to many householders. The presence of excessive amounts of moisture in a building is most certainly the cause of a greater proportion of defects than any other single cause or agent. The five most common sources of dampness are:
(a) defective plumbing and defective roof plumbing and flashings;
(b) rain penetration;
(c) rising damp;
(d) condensation; and
(e) hygroscopic salts and efflorescence.
The symptoms and causes outlined in the following examples are not intended to be all inclusive. However, they will give an indication of the more common characteristics which may be readily observed at the time of inspection.
