May 5 - 11, 2019: Issue 403

 

Dealing With Autumn Dampness Inside The Home + Mums Day Gifts For 2019 

A warm Autumn means now is a good time to give wood furniture an extra polish to prevent mould, treat any leather seats with some TLC and see where else ‘interior dampness’ may be affecting the quality of air inside the home or damaging walls, windows and floors.

High levels of indoor humidity aids the increase of bacteria, viruses, mites and fungi, and can lead to respiratory infections and illnesses: "The majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimised by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%." 

This week we look at how to prevent and treat dampness to keep your home free from creeping dank and the problems associated with this. 

Condensation 

The warmth inside a home will cause moisture to evaporate into the air. If you always keep your windows and doors shut, fresh air can't replace this water-laden air.

When humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, it cools and condenses - depositing droplets of water. In cold weather, the temperature of your external walls and windows is lower than the air indoors - so moisture will condense and run down your window panes, and into your gyprock, window ledges and even affect wooden architraves at the base of glass doorways.

Dampness occurring in a modern house in good condition is usually due to condensation. To reduce it, you can extract the moist air with an extractor fan, reduce the moisture in the air by improving your ventilation and install insulation so the inner surfaces of your walls and windows don't get so cold. Cleaning extractor fans and vents will maximise their function of removing moisture from interior rooms.

Damp rooms in Winter occurs when a room gets too cold and the air can't absorb the moisture. By turning up the heating the air can absorb more moisture. Ensure rooms continue to have ventilation during these months so the damp air can escape as well. 

If there's widespread damp or mould on your upstairs walls and ceilings a lack of ceiling ventilation or insulation can be the problem. To remedy this, you'll need to have insulation installed and check the air vents for your ceiling are not blocked. 

If you have a persistent problem with mould in some areas of your home, year round whether from humidity in warm months and condensation during cooler months, it may be a good idea to apply a mould-resistant paint to these surfaces to prevent mildew. Make sure you clean the areas you are going to repaint well first or the mould will leach through your new work.

There are a great range of dehumidifiers available that will extract moisture from these rooms, and many of these also ‘clean’ the air, great for a damp salty air environment like ours – just remember some portable versions need to have their water tanks emptied regularly – you will be surprised how much accumulates and how quickly.


Dulux Wash & Wear Kitchen and Bathroom: $48.90, 1L.,Low sheen. Hard wearing. 10 year guarantee against mould growth. White base.

A few other simple ways of keeping dampness down within the home are to:

• Open windows when there is no rain and some breeze. This will increase airflow through the house, which will reduce humidity. 

• Externally vent all water-vapour producing appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers, showers and stoves. Venting into the roofspace can cause condensation problems, especially when the house has a metal roof. 

• Install extractor fans in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry. 

• Cover pans when cooking and let steam escape by opening a window or using an extractor fan. 

• Dry clothes outdoors whenever possible. 

• Keep furniture away from walls to improve air flow in the room. 

• Don’t fill your cupboards to bursting point, especially those where cloth is stored. 

• Close kitchen and bathroom doors to prevent steam travelling into colder rooms. 

• Wipe surfaces when moisture settles to stop mould forming.

Damp spots appearing on ceilings and becoming black with mould indicate there is a lack of ventilation in your roof cavity (the space between tiles and ceiling), a cracked or leaking tile (see re-point your roof) or that guttering may be leaking or that the flashing may have cracked or become dislodged, allowing water through. You'll need to refit the loose flashing, or replace it if it’s damaged with the same type of flashing or a self-adhesive flashing strip.

Cleaning debris from your guttering regularly and apply a sealant to small areas that have deteriorated or aren’t sealed properly and replacing those that are beyond repair will prevent water being funneled into the roof cavity.

Penetrating Damp

Penetrating damp is caused by water seeping through the walls at any point (as opposed to rising damp, which is confined to the lower part of ground-floor walls). You may see damp patches appear when strong winds drive rain against the wall of your house, and disappear when the weather improves.

A semi-permanent damp patch can be caused by a leaking gutter or a crack in the brick mortar. If a whole wall is showing signs of damp, it may mean that old bricks have lost their weatherproof facings and become porous.

Penetrating damp is less likely to affect your home if it has cavity walls. If water does cross the cavity, it's usually because mortar has spread onto a wall tie.

Old bricks can become porous and let water penetrate though the wall. Replace the bricks, or repoint and treat the area with an exterior silicone water-repellent fluid.   

Cracks in brickwork or damaged pointing in the joints will allow water through to your wall too. Where this appears have a look at the exterior of the structure and replace the damaged bricks and fill any gaps in the mortar.

If the brickwork is secure, mortar on a wall tie in the cavity could be bridging the gap and allowing water to cross to the inner wall. The only way to solve this is to remove some bricks, inspect the cavity and rake out or chip off any mortar on the wall ties.

Rising Damp

Rising damp is confined to the lower part of walls (up to a height of about one metre) and to solid floors, and is caused by water soaking up from the ground.

If you have a modern house, it will be protected by a waterproof barrier that's built into the walls 150mm above the ground (the damp-proof course) and another one that's laid under concrete floors (the damp-proof membrane). 

If there's a gap or breach in your damp-proof barrier, water from the ground can be drawn up into the structure of your house. This can happen if the plastic membrane under your floor has been torn (by sharp stones, for instance).

If you live in an old house built without a damp-proof barrier, it could well suffer from rising damp. While the problem is made worse by wet weather, it never completely dries out even in summer. If you spot signs of rising damp, you may need to call in professional help to find out the cause and remedy it.

One way you can protect your home from this is to ensure there is no build up of earth against your exterior walls; this will cause water to breach your damp-proof course and let water seep through. You'll need to remove the earth and let your wall dry out.


KARCHER K2 FC DECK PRESSURE CLEANER:  $199.00 - 1600PSI. 6L/min Water flow.. 1400W Motor. Includes PS 20 Power Scrubber, Vario Lance and Dirt Blaster Lance.

You can also ensure an adequate flow of air ventilates the area beneath your floor by installing an Edmonds Ecofan.

Preventing Flooding around your home

As severe wet weather appears to be occurring more often, and more forecast before Autumn and Winter are through, homes are prone to flooding.

A few measures you can take to prevent this around the home:

•. Keep your gutters and downpipes clear of any leaves and debris.

• If surface water isn’t draining properly you may have a blocked Stormwater drain – check these to clear of debris washed into and if the problem persists and you have pools that don’t disperse, it is time to contact your plumber before the problem becomes worse. 

• Ensure outside ground surfaces slope away from your house’s walls. 

As Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 12th - a timely reminder to spoil mum all year round with something she will see and smell long afterwards is available in   Mother's Day 2018: DIY Rose Garden  while the roses themselves can be found without having to waste time and money in traffic:


ENGLISH ROSE VARIETIES BY DAVID AUSTIN: $9.95 - Bagged rose varieties. Bred in England with olde world characteristics and fragrance. Ideal for garden borders, pots and containers. 


MOTHER'S DAY ROSE VARIETIES: $22.95


SPEAR & JACKSON CULTIVATOR PINK: $6.75 - Also available: Forks, hand trowels Transplanters


FISKARS RUBY PRUNER & SCISSOR SET:  $34.95 - 22mm cutting capacity pruner. Anti friction coating on pruner blade. Carbon steel blade scissors.

If it's Grandma you're looking to give something extra special to, you can create her own little 'salad pot' so all her favourites are within reach by filling a large flowerpot with a few things like this:


Salad in a tub

The products shown on this page are all available from Johnson Brothers Mitre 10. 

Green Life Garden Centre at Johnson Brothers Mona Vale

Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 New Store
73 Bassett Street
Mona Vale - Online Store: Jbhmv.Com.Au

Products advice is available from the trained friendly staff at Narrabeen, Mona Vale and Avalon Johnson Brothers Mitre 10. 

Click on logo to visit Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 website

Johnson Bros Mitre 10 - Avalon            (02) 9918 3315

Johnson Bros Mitre 10 - Mona Vale     (02) 9999 3340

JBH Timber & Building Supplies          (02) 9999 0333

JBH Fencing & Landscape Supplies    (02) 9970 6333

www.johnsonbros.com.au Online store: jbhmv.com.au

Important 
All information and tips in this publication are of a general nature only and neither Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 or Pittwater Online News does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information and tips in this publication. This publication is not intended to be a substitute for expert advice. Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 advises you to always consult an experienced and qualified person when undertaking jobs of this kind (including consulting a qualified tradesperson such as an electrician or plumber where relevant expert services are required). 

You should also consider any safety precautions that may be necessary when undertaking the work described in this publication (including wearing any necessary safety equipment such as safety glasses, goggles or ear protectors or hard hats). The information and tips in this publication are provided on the basis that Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 and Pittwater Online News excludes all liability for any loss or damage which is suffered or incurred (including, but not limited to, indirect and consequential loss or damage and whether or not such loss or damage could have been foreseen) for any personal injury or damage to property whatsoever resulting from the use of the information and tips in this publication. 

Pittwater Online News and Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 also advises there may be laws, regulations or by-laws with which you must comply when undertaking the work described in this publication. You should obtain all necessary permissions and permits from council and/or any other relevant statutory body or authority before carrying out any work. Major projects published in this publication always list these and/orlinks to where you may research what your own project requires to meet regulations.

Previous DIY Pages:

Decking Timbers  Caring For Your Deck Decking Finishes  Privacy Screens I Privacy Screens II  Privacy Screening Hardwoods  Autumn Paths and Lawns  Insulation Batts Plasterboard  Ventilation - Edmond's Ecofan Blackboards for Children and Home Spring Lawn Care  Shade Sails & Watering  Basic DIY Tools DIY Tools - Power Drills Recycle Your Trampoline into An Air Bed  How to Build Your Own Backyard Cricket Pitch Christmas Lights Displays around House and Garden Summer Mildew - Refresh, Renew How to Fix Things That Drip and Bump in the Night Time To Plant Winter Vegetables in  a Raised Garden Beds Layout Organsing Your Tool Shed  Make Your Own Weathervane Installing A Garden Watering System  Decking Oils  How To Make Garden Compost  How To Winter proof Your Lawn  How to create Shabby Chic effect on Timber Furniture How to Build Your Own Raised Garden Bed  Growing Your Own Winter Vegies  Winter Heating Guide  Prepare Your Yard For Winter Eradicating Noxious Weeds From Your Yard How to Fix Furniture Finishes Part I  How to Repair Scratches, Dings, and Dents of Furniture Surfaces - Part II Winter Draughts Fix  Classic Wooden Tool Carrier Spring Garden Checklist Part I  Install Your Own Skylight  Retaining Walls for Saving Soil and New Spring Garden Beds  Summer Salad Garden  Native Plant Garden for A Fairy Arbour Renewing Short Flight of Exterior Stairs Deck Maintenance DIY Summer Tasks You Can Do In Time to Get to the Beach  Garden Ponds for Attracting Birdlife, Dragonflies and for the Soothing Sounds of Water  Salt Air: Maintenance and Protection Creating an Outdoor Dining Arbour, Gazebo or Patio - Part I Creating an Outdor Dining Arbour, Gazebo or Patio Part II  Autumn Garden Tasks  Autumn DIY Jobs: Waterproof Your Home Checklist  Dealing With Dampness Inside the Home  Fixing Your Fence  Repairing and Replacing Damaged Decking boards DIY Toy Box and Snow Globes: School Holidays Fun - Winter 2015  DIY Wooden Toy Cars and Perfect Painted Flowerpots: School Holiday Fun - Winter 2015  Shoring Up an Under House Earth Bank – Installing a Basic Retaining Wall  DIY One Shelf Sideboard  Early Spring 2015 Garden Care Salad Garden For Children  Keeping Your Garden and Home Cool in Hot Weather  Classic Beach Garden and Camping Chairs 3 Portable Versions Anyone Can Make DIY Outdoor Furniture Mark I: Park Benches for Your Garden Make Your Own Scooter or Skateboard: Summer 2016 Fun  How to Install a Solid Core Door and Door Furniture  Summer Garden Jobs: Pruning A Hedge  How to Make A Swing Chair - With A Frame for Garden Setting Garden Jobs for March to Make A Beautiful and Healthy Spring  Keeping Outdoor Nooks Warm During Cooler Months Children’s Step Stool with Storage  Stop Winter Rain Lawn Loss and Soil Erosion on Slopes  DIY Garden Shed: Part 1 of 4 - Base  DIY Garden Shed: Part 2 - Framing Walls  DIY Garden Shed: Part 2b - Gable Roof Framing  Garden Shed Part 3: Roof Installation  DIY Garden Shed: Weather- boards - Door And Window Installation And Paint Finish DIY Coffee Table With Chessboard Inlay  Spring Gardening: Feeding Your Soil And Plants - What Works For Each Plant  DIY Sandstone Flagging Parking Area - Platform  DIY Pre-Summer Checklist For A Safe Home   Summer Spruce Up: Interior Paint Tips and Three easy steps to rejuvenate your timber deck The Perfect BBQ Garden Setting DIY Water Wise Garden   DIY Side Gates  DIY Storm Preparation And Home Protection  One To Two Day DIY Weekend Spruce Ups  Vegepods For Autumn Planting + Easy To Make Lego Table Or Student Desk That Can Be Dismantled + Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Online Store   Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Great New Mona Vale Store: Still In Bassett Street - number 73  Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 New Mona Vale Store: The Greenlife Garden Centre  Go Outside And Play: Creating Garden Spaces To Connect Children With Nature DIY Plasterboard Repair DIY Dolls House Or Garage Or Boatshed  DIY Child's Waggon - or use as a large planter mover DIY Bathroom Refresh: Zing For Spring  Tips for Growing a Native Garden FireCrunch, Australian Developed Fire-proof, Sustainable, Durable and Reliable Building Board Now Available at Johnson Bros. at Mona Vale and Narrabeen School Holidays DIY Ideas for Children: Little Vegetables Garden, Swing, Windchimes Bushfire Season Preparation 2017: Home and Outdoor Areas  Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Trade Centre at Mona Vale + Issue No 1 of Mitre 10’s inSITE Magazine for Tradies and Handymen  Preparing Al Fresco Areas for Christmas Get-Togethers and Summer Visitors  Summer De-bug; Mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and ants - how to keep the outdoors insects where they belong DIY Summer Projects: Install A Fountain Or Water Feature  Late Summer and Early Autumn Projects: A Shed For All Storage Solutions + Garden Tasks + Keeping Our Waterways Clean   Autumn Plantings for Winter Harvests   2018   Paintback Collection Event: Johnson Bros Mitre 10 Mona Vale Saturday, April 7 Reducing Ticks in Your Garden: Garden care, Plants that Repel, What to Wear Outdoors Attracting Insectivore Birds to Your Garden: DIY Natural Tick Control  Mother's Day 2018: DIY Rose Garden Winter Mould & Mildew Inside Your home: How to Keep Air and Surfaces Healthier DIY Traditional Rocking Horse  Johnson Brothers Trade Day 2018 DIY Mushrooms and Vege Kits: School Holidays Fun Winter 2018 for Curious Kids  Woodworking Projects for Beginners: School Holidays Fun Winter 2018 - Simple Storage Box + Wood Tool Box Spring Garden Prep: Soil Care  Spring into Spring + JBH August 2018 Trifecta  DIY Backyard Doggie Paradise  Garden Care for Heavy Rain Days + Non-Toxic Snail and Slug Debug Ideas  Garden Design and Plant Management to Minimise Tick Attacks and Infestations - insights from an essay by Bill Conroy BSc. (Agr) (Syd) + a Tribute to Wilfred Lawrence Conroy CBE by Keith Jackson, PNG and others  Make Your Own BBQ Kitchen Garden: Gifts That Grow Past That Giving Day  Christmas Lights 2018: Light Up the Night  How to Keep Your House Cool During a Heatwave Without Using an Air-Conditioner Mid-Summer Garden Care  2018 Winners Of National Hardware Store Of The Year - Johnson Bros Mitre 10 Mona Vale! + End Of Summer Garden To Do List  DIY Fruits of Your Garden: Growing Figs  Fruits Of Your Garden: Growing Passionfruit - Autumn Is Also The Time To Plant Strawberries For Spring  How To Water Your Plants When Away On Holidays + Some April 2019 School Holidays Fun For Outdoors; A Skateboard Swing Or Indoors; Grow Or Make Pot Plant People

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John and Bob Johnson - The Johnson Brothers Profile  John William Alfred Johnson - The Eulogies for those who could not attend Mass

Australia's Prime Minister Visits Mackellar - Informal Afternoon Tea with Hon. Malcolm Turnbull October 2016

JBH Win Awards August 2018 Trifecta - 2018 Free Trade Day supporters, Mitre 10 Heritage Advert features JBH Mona Vale Store, Hardware Australia’s 2018 NSW Hardware Store of the Year over 2500sqm.

Front Page Issue 294: 2018 Winners Of National Hardware Store Of The Year - Johnson Bros Mitre 10 Mona Vale !!!