Evaluation of the Impact of Dampness on Existing Buildings in Ikirun, Osun State, Nigeria

Dampness is a very dangerous structural defects that ruins paint jobs and interior décor, promotes the growth of mould and decay, detracts from aesthetics, and endangers residents’ health. This study sought to identify and document the causes, and effects associated with dampness in the existing 150 residential buildings in Ikirun, Osun State, Nigeria through a questionnaire survey in the town. A quantitative approach to data analysis was used in which the causes and effects associated with dampness were analyzed using severity index. Majority of the houses surveyed were of lateritic materials and sandcrete block walls. The findings indicated that hygroscopic salts, deteriorated skirting, excessive moisture, inadequate ventilation, inadequate DPC, building defaults, inadequate gutters, condensation, exposed wall tops, poor supervision, and noncompliance with building rules, regulations, and codes were the most serious factors linked to dampness in the floors and walls of the existing residential buildings surveyed. These identified causes are indications of the severity of the problem of dampness in existing residential buildings in Ikirun, Nigeria. Based on this study, it was recommended that all landlords ought to be required to create drainage systems around their structures and the relevant authorities should conduct inspections on a regular basis to assess the degree of adherence to the aforementioned point.