Damp proofing, wet rot, woodworm and property refurbishment services in Dorset and Hampshire
If you live in the UK, you’ve probably seen them plenty of times before: subtle bricks with small holes going through them, built into the outside walls of a building. These are known as ‘air bricks’, and they play an important role in ventilating and preventing damp in various types of building.
Croft Preservation are Dorset and Hampshire’s leading damp prevention specialists. In this post, we explain what air bricks are, why they're used, and if you should choose to have them incorporated into your property.
Designed to blend into the exterior of a building, air bricks are terracotta, plastic, steel, or cast iron bricks with square-shaped holes going through them. They are usually red in colour, but can also come in grey, black, and white. They are incorporated into the lowest part of the wall and cannot be seen on the inside of a building.
Air bricks are used to ventilate the space beneath a suspended floor or in a cavity wall.
Without proper ventilation, it's easy for moisture to build up in the stagnant air inside the space. This moisture will soon cause damp to infect your timber and insulation, in turn leading to mould, rot, and permanent structural damage.
By allowing fresh air to flow into the space, moisture will be vented and the risk of damp hugely reduced.
An air brick is an important fixture in a home with a suspended floor or cavity wall. Take a look around the outside of your building - if you know you have a suspended floor or cavity wall but can’t spot an air brick, you may want to consider having one installed before damp starts to set in.
If you’re not sure whether you have a suspended floor or cavity wall, check in with a professional. They’ll be able to survey your home and give their expert recommendation on your best course of action.
Important note: be wary if you live in an area prone to flooding. A flood can cause water to flow through the air brick and into the cavity, leading to water damage that’s costly to fix. A vent cover (available online for around £15) will protect your air brick from water coming through. It will also prevent insects and rodents from entering your house through the brick.
The team at Croft Preservation have installed hundreds of air bricks onto homes across the South. After you get in touch with us, one of our expert surveyors will assess your property to determine whether an air brick is the right choice, and if so, where the best placement for it is. They will then provide you with an accurate quote for our services. When you’re happy to go ahead, our builders will install your air brick at a time that suits you, minimising mess or disruption to your daily life.
If we determine that damp, rot, mould, or cavity wall tie corrosion have already set in, we can also remove and replace infected areas to make your home a safe and healthy place to live once more.
Book a survey online or call us on 01202 737739 to get started!
Air bricks may seem like small, unassuming fixtures, but they play a vital role in the health and integrity of your home. Particularly in properties with suspended timber floors, these ventilation tools can help prevent serious issues such as damp, condensation, and even structural damage.
Rising damp is an all-too-common issue that can affect homes of all shapes and sizes, especially older properties. It can cause problems like damp patches, mould, and even structural damage - issues that can be both expensive and time-consuming to fix.
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