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Water leaks and Filtered Floors: let’s solve that problem - Philadelphia Flooring Solutions

Written by Wilson Velez | Jun 10, 2021 1:18:44 PM

 

Humidity is an issue led by its presence in walls and ceilings, but the humidity in floors is not far behind. That problem, according to experts, depends on different factors, such as the material with which the floor is made; but also, the composition of the land on which the construction was built. Wet and filtered floors can cause damage, and also, they do not look good, so let’s solve that problem with our tips.

Humidity can have many reasons…

The places where water can make an appearance are many. This is a problem that weakens materials so much that it is capable of sensibly shortening their useful life. 

The damages caused by water leaks depend on the causes that originate it:

  • Mold on walls
  • Peeling (peeling) paints
  • Moisture stains on the ceiling
  • Leaks in the house

These leaks can be observed quickly in the rainy season, going more unnoticed in the summertime for example. Rainwater along with groundwater is the main cause of filtered floors, and it can affect walls, roofs, terraces, and facades, and would probably be a serious problem for the structure of the whole house.

Causes of water leaks

There are many reasons that cause water leaks at home, although the lack of correct waterproofing or deficiencies in sensitive areas, is usually the origin of many of these problems. When the water in the form of seepage and moisture appears on a wall or a facade, in many cases it is due to the effect of hydrostatic pressure, which causes the water to leak through cracks, pores, and joints. This causes stains of moisture and molds to be generated, which gives rise to a humid environment, in which fungi and bacteria are harmful.

Capillary moisture or capillarity is another phenomenon that can be behind the appearance of water leaks. Capillary rise occurs when water is absorbed, depending on the permeability, insulation, and porosity of the walls. 

In the case of rainwater, dampness can be formed by seepage if the façade has cracks, the roof tiles are deteriorated or displaced, or there are no sealing joints, or is in poor condition. The poor adhesion of the paint on the substrate can be the cause of water leaks. 

One of the most frequent is the losses in the pipes (pipes) of the water installation. These can be caused by breakage (during renovation work) or by the old age of the materials (lead, galvanized, etc.).

Moisture from seepage not only causes aesthetic damage or damage to the structure of the house. A house with problems of water leaks in roofs and walls ends up becoming an unhealthy house.

Home Solutions for Filtered Floors

These are very simple solutions for you to apply at home every day:

Do not open the windows on a humid day. If the floors are wet, it is very possible that there is high humidity in the place. The air is already saturated; the only thing that you would achieve is to aggravate the problem.

Wash floors with hot water. It is not about burning it. The high-temperature water will improve the evaporation, and your floors will be clean anyways.

Add alcohol to the wash water. The evaporating alcohol will significantly improve the drying times. Of course, check first if the material your floors are made can actually handle alcohol.

How to Avoid Water Leaks in Floors from Construction or Renovation

When the causes of filtered floors come from the humidity of the soil where the house sits, the solution is: to prevent the contact of the house with the ground.

An efficient way to avoid leakage in floors is using a lightweight, thin, and inexpensive material. This material is nylon, polyethylene film, or polyethylene blanket. 

When there are risks of land with high layers, it is placed on the natural soil, before making the subfloor. By preventing the construction contact with the ground, any transmission of moisture is avoided.

The system is effective to prevent humidity in floors when is under construction since it can be placed there. But, if the situation is that your floors have humidity due to a leak, the system is not recommended because it is uneconomical to remove the existing floors.

If you want to know more about this or you want to install new floors, but have these issues, please consult with us, and we can give you the solution.