Causes, Prevention and Treatment of Damp on Building in Makoko Area of Yaba Local Government in Lagos State
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose of the Study
The essence of this study is to:
- Identify the causes of damp in buildings in makoko area of Yaba local government in Lagos state.
- Identify the effects of damp on buildings in makoko area of Yaba local government in Lagos state.
- Measures for preventing the damp in order to improve the life span of the buildings in makoko.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter addresses the literature review to guide the study. It is organised under the following sub-headings:
- Damp
- Causes of damp
- Identification/symptoms of damp
- Measures for preventing damp
- Treatment of damp in building component
Damp
To be more realistic, damp in building cannot be avoided due to the climatic condition, but it can be prevented on a building to a minimal level which can serve as an antidote to the causes and effects of damp in a building. Damp in building can occur naturally when the foundation of a building is not well treated with the appropriate material which may lead to rising damp. Moreover some of the home facilities and equipments in a building can also cause damp-equipment such as the air condition, refrigerator and microwave contributes to more action of damp known as condensation. This occurrence happens not due to the lack of knowledge of the builder or the occupants about damp, but by not applying the necessary treatment which can normalize the effects of damp in the building.
Olusanya (2004) ascertain that damp in building can be caused by bad eaves or inadequate gutters or cracked roofing tiles, broken pointing, improper wall thickness, poor construction and inadequate protection.
More so, when considering the causes, prevention and treatment of damp we should know that damp occur in different means which are condensation, rain penetration, rising damp and humidity.
Melvin and Gordon (1998) consider damp as underground water reaching the foot of a wall therefore tend to rise in the walling materials and will continue to do so due to rise in capillary action to varying degrees of intensity. This penetration of ground is commonly known as rising damp.
Burkinshaw and Parrett (2003) explain damp more comprehensively as moisture that travels upwards through the pore structure, or via small fissures or cracks or as water vapour against the force of gravity, typically up a wall through a floor from a source below the ground.
Troutman (2004) define dampness as the normal upward transfer of moisture in a porous material due to capillary action.
Ralf F Burkinshaw (2009) describes damp as a level on the external envelop of a building which are liable to moisture effects caused by pooling or splashing or impinging of (usually) rain water at the junction of a horizontal surface to the vertical wall surface -being most common at the wall base.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter deals with the research method adopted in carrying out this research, they are discuss under the following sub-headings: research design, area of study, population of the study, sampling and sampling procedure, instrument for data collection, validation of instrument, reliability of instrument, method of data collection, method of data analysis.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS
In this chapter, data for this study were analysed and presented based on the research questions that guide the study.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
This chapter of the study summarizes the study carried out, conclusion of the study and recommendation were given.
Summary of the Study
Damp is the presence of unwanted moisture in the structure of a building, either the result of intrusion from outside or condensation from within the structure.
In Makoko metropolis of Yaba local government area of Lagos state, damp has been a major issues which affects building. And has put the life of the occupants at risk of health problem such as asthma, it also cause damage to their properties and also the deterioration of building.
The following research question was used to guide the study.
- What are the causes of damp in buildings?
- What are the effects of damp on buildings?
- What are the means of preventing damp in building?
- What are the necessary treatments needed for buildings that are affected by damp?
The study investigated causes, prevention and treatment of damp on building to achieve this objective of this study; the research method of data collection involved was observation method, with the aid of checklist.
The population of the study consist of twenty (20) buildings in makoko. The researcher adopted purposive sampling method procedure in selection of 5-building which represents those building that are affected with damp in makoko.
From the study it shows that the causes of damp are: rain penetration, rising damp, condensation, humidity, roof leakage and lack of drainage. But in makoko rain penetration was identified to cause 100% of the damp problem, while rising damp and roof leakage causes 60% of damp problem. Condensation and humidity are not the causes of damp in makoko.
The effects of damp and its percentage to those building are: peeling of plaster and rendering from the wall 60%, growth of mold on wall, ceiling and roof 80%, destruction of timber component 40%, musty odour in the living area 20%, bleaching and flaking of paints 20%. The pictures of the affected building were shown (see list of picture).
Conclusion
Having discussed to a great depth the causes, prevention and treatment of damp on building, an in-depth knowledge has been given on diverse causes of damp, necessary prevention on damp and prescribed treatment needed for those building that has been severely affected with damp in makoko area of yaba Lagos.
Problem associated with various forms of dampness and the corrective measures or needed treatment to pro-long the life span of a building were also disclosed
Recommendation
The following recommendation has been made based on the finding made in this study.
- Building construction should be carried out by professionals.
- Building occupants/owners should imbibe good maintenance culture.
- The government and the local planning authority should ensure that there is a proper drainage around in the society.
- Building designer (architect) sufficient covering for homes to prevent rain penetration.
- Damp-proof course should be used appropriately in various component of the building.
Suggestion for Further Studies
For the purpose of further study the following suggestion are hereby made:
- Method and process of constructing pile foundation on a swampy area such as makoko.
- Causes, prevention and treatment of cracks on building.
- Eradication of building collapse in Lagos state.
- Identification and treatment of building defect.
Limitation of the Study
This research study is limited to the difficulty of explaining to the building owners/occupants of those buildings that are affected with damp and for them to understand in order to gather more facts. Finally, proper evaluation/analysis of the instrument (checklist) used in gathering data for concrete conclusion.
REFERENCES
- Arora s.p and Bindra s.p (2010): the text book of building construction dhanpat rai publications
- Barry’s (2010) introduction to construction of buildings second edition
- British medical journal damp houses may 25, 1872. p.558.
- Burkinshaw and Parrett (2003): the rising damp tests of Camberwell pier.
- Christopher Hall and William D (2007): rising damp capillary rise dynamic in wall.
- Damp (structural) Wikipedia (2014), the free encyclopaedia en.wikipedia.org/../damp(structural) 09/11/2014.
- Don Prowler (2011) mould and moisture dynamics: whole building design guide.
- Hutton Tim (2000): http:// www.buildingconservation.com the building conservation directory 09/11/2014.
- Julie and Andrea (2011) moisture dynamic in walls: response to micro environment and climate change
- martellata (2006) long term performance damp-proof courses.
- Melvin and Gordon (1998): dampness and mold
- Olusanya S.O. (2004) building construction methods by zioneel publishers.
- Peter Brett (2004) carpentry and joinery practical activities book 2.
- Ralf F Burkinshaw (2009): remedying damp. RICS Books. P.151
