Are Bungalows More Likely To Develop Damp than Houses?

26 November 2024

It’s understandable that homeowners would be worried about their property developing damp, and when it comes to choosing somewhere new to live, like a bungalow, they are going to have certain questions. One of these questions might well be ‘How likely is it that a bungalow is going to develop damp?’

This is a fair question, especially considering that a bungalow is often constructed differently to terraced and semi-detached properties – and often, they can be more modern.

So, how likely is it that a bungalow will develop damp?

Why Might Damp Develop in a Bungalow?

Damp isn’t one specific problem, but three distinct ones, each brought about by a different cause.

The first kind of damp to think about is rising damp, and this is normally a problem in properties that either don’t have a damp proof course (DPC) fitted, or where the existing DPC has failed, broken, or cracked.

In this situation moisture enters the properties walls from the ground, and then rises within the walls thanks to a process called capillary action. Normally a DPC stops the moisture from travelling up into where it would be visible in a property, but when a DPC has failed that moisture could potentially climb higher, normally to about a meter above ground level.

However, because most bungalows in the UK have been built relatively recently (most being between 1930 to partway through the 1970s), they have normally been constructed with a DPC as standard, so unless a DPC has failed, rising damp can be relatively rare in a bungalow.

Then there is penetrating damp. Penetrating damp is a form of damp that happens when there is a defect in the property that leads to damp setting in. This could be something like a blocked drain, an unprotected chimney breast, or bad pointing on an exterior wall.

Often, this damp will get noticeably worse with bad weather, with walls becoming visibly damper during or after rainfall. When it comes to penetrating damp is always advised to find and remedy the root cause of it before taking any action to repair any damage, otherwise the damp is going to come right back.

Whilst its more likely to be penetrating damp found in a bungalow over rising damp, it’s still not the leading cause of people finding damp in their bungalow.

Instead, condensation, the third cause of damp in our list, is probably the most common reason that people might find damp in their bungalow.

Condensation is a problem that’s caused by peoples lifestyles. What we mean by this is that because condensation is caused by warm air being created, and then condensing onto a cool surface upon contact, that the warm air has to be created somehow.

It’s most commonly from the likes of cooking in a kitchen, showering, running a hot bath, or even just having a few people in the one room.

However, even though condensation is a big problem in all kinds of properties, it’s often a bigger issue in the likes of bungalows.

Why is Condensation Worse in a Bungalow?

 

In a lot of bungalows ventilation becomes a problem, especially because all of the rooms and spaces are across one floor rather than two. In a semi-detached property for example, you will normally find the bathroom on the first floor, along with the bedrooms, whilst the living room and kitchen are on the ground floor.

This means that the condensation created is spread across both of these floors, and if someone was having a shower whilst someone else was cooking, the accumulated moisture in the air is again, spread across two floors, meaning that controlling the condensation is also split across those same two floors.

However, if we apply that same situation to a bungalow, we can assume that there is going to be a fair amount of steam being created in spaces much closer to each other than they might be in a two floor home.

All of this means that the amount of steam in the bungalow is going to lead to a much more intense build up of condensation on its walls, windows, and other surfaces. If ignored this can easily lead to the build up of black mould, dry rot, or even wet rot if the problem is big enough and ignored for long enough.

Of course, this isn’t the case for every bungalow. Dormer bungalows for example have the main bedroom situated upstairs, meaning that less condensation is likely to be created on the ground floor, lessening the overall amount of condensation being created, which could of course be higher in a traditional, one floor bungalow.

It’s often the case that bungalows have been built without much consideration for ventilation. Basically, condensation control solutions like air bricks, air vents, extractor fans, and other forms of ventilation might not have been installed as generously as they might have in other properties, and condensation can build up easily as a result.

We should also think about the demographic that stereotypically choose to live in bungalows. Because the biggest occupiers of bungalows are often older, there are instances where condensation has developed because the occupants aren’t going out as much as younger families might, or they are reluctant to allow for ventilation to save on heating and keep the interior warm.

We raise this as a point because in some situations you might enter a bungalow for a viewing, or whatever reason, and notice that despite the availability of condensation control methods, there is still signs of a condensation problem like black mould. Sometimes the reason is as simple as the previous or current occupants simply didn’t take the steps needed to ventilate the property.

How Can Condensation in a Bungalow be Controlled?

If you own, or are interested in buying a bungalow, please know that discovering a condensation problem isn’t going to be a permanent one. Instead, look at what condensation control options are available currently in the property.

If you already have things like an extractor fan installed, trickle vents in your windows, air bricks in the walls, and other such features, make sure you are using them to their full potential. Normally, relying on these kind of condensation control methods even in the slightest after a period of not using them can make all the difference.

Of course, if using the condensation control methods you have to hand isn’t enough, then it’s time you look into additional options. Simple actions like opening windows throughout the property and allowing for air to circulate can do a lot more good for the property than you might think.

You can also look into installing new means of ventilation throughout your property if you want to improve airflow even further. This might mean the installation of a positive pressure system in the property, which acts to provide a steady, sustained airflow throughout the bungalow to keep air flow moving, and remove warm, moist air from the property.

Then you can look at your own behaviour, and think about how it might be influencing the creation of warm air. Putting lids on your pans when cooking can alleviate a lot of condensation in a kitchen, as can things like being aware of steam being created in a shower.

All of these things combined should take care of any condensation problem you might have in your bungalow. However, if you are still struggling with damp and would like some help from the experts, please give our team a call.

Just ring 0800 288 8660, or fill in one of our online contact forms and our team will get in touch to answer your questions, or arrange a survey