Rising Damp
What is Rising Damp?
Rising damp is the result of water seeping through from the ground surrounding the foundations of a building. Brick and stone are naturally porous and therefore the moisture will soak into these materials over time. Heat draws up the moisture that carrying soluble salts, the most significant are sulphates, nitrates and chlorides by a process loosely termed as “capilliarity.”
The height that dampness rises depends on several factors, including how porous the brick or stone is and the rate of evaporation. Masonry containing a high proportion of fine pores will allow the water to rise higher than a coarse pored material.
If rising damp is left large quantities of salts accumulate within the building structure forming a ‘salt band’. Both chlorides and nitrates are usually hygroscopic, (i.e. they absorb moisture from the surrounding environment) and, in general, the greater the amount of salts the greater the absorption of moisture – especially under humid conditions.
What is a Damp Proof Course?
A damp proof course (DPC) – is a horizontal barrier used to protect buildings from moisture rising into interior areas. Over time the DPC starts to decay and also adaptations in the building occur, such as driveways and paths are raised that bridge DPC’s allowing dampness to enter the building fabric.
Why Rising Damp can be a Problem
Rising damp generally is not found when it originally occurs and this problem often leading to timber decay and causes heat loss due to the increased conductivity of the walls. It is unsightly, potentially unhealthy, and gradually decays the masonry causing the surface to break away. As the moisture enters plasterwork this leads to extensive and disruptive treatment internally for the owners.
Ideally should you suspect that your property is suffering from rising damp then the sooner you start thinking about treatment, the lower the cost and potential damage.
How to Spot Rising Damp
Typical indications of this damage can be wallpaper appearing blistered or beginning to peel, and discoloured patches becoming noticeable on lower parts of the interior wall. This type of damp can cause serious interior structural damage thanks to the deterioration of plaster work, the rusting away of skirting nails and the rotting away of skirting boards. Externally white bands of salts can be found to the lower region of the wall.
How to fix a Rising Damp Problem
Mostly it is to determine that you actually have rising damp as a large percentage of houses treated for rising damp did not actually have it in the first place – they actually had issues with other forms of dampness. Look externally to see if you have any faulty water services or a new patio or flower bed that has been placed higher than the DPC. Attending to any such items you could cure the damp problem by allowing the area to dry out naturally from opening windows and heating the room.
However, should there be no obvious signs, then we recommend instructing a surveyor to carry out a property survey where this will reveal the extent of any problem and any recommendations for the treatment required. For rising damp treatment this will involve the masonry being injected with water repellent chemicals and the removal and replacement of any affected plaster work and damaged timber.
We treat rising damp in Sheffield, Leeds, Barnsley, Rotherham, Manchester, Wakefield, Chesterfield, Mansfield to name but a few.