An Overview of the Symptoms Associated with Dampness in Walls of Residential Buildings in Major Towns in Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to identify and document the symptoms associated with dampness in the walls of 5,800 residential buildings in Ghana through a questionnaire survey in the Dry Equatorial, South Western Equatorial, Tropical Continental and the Wet Semi Equatorial climatic zones. A quantitative approach to data analysis was used in which the symptoms associated with dampness were analyzed using severity index. Majority of the houses surveyed were of lateritic materials and sandcrete block walls. The results showed that the most severe symptoms associated with dampness in the walls of the residential buildings surveyed were hygroscopic salts, decayed skirting, dampness below 1.5m and mold growth on walls up to 1m high. These identified symptoms are indications of the severity of the problem of dampness in residential buildings in Ghana. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to identify the lead source of dampness in the walls of residential buildings as this will assist in the recommendation of appropriate actions to remedy the problem.

Keywords: Buildings, climatic zones, dampness, Ghana, symptoms