damp, rising damp, damp walls, dpc

Rising Damp 

 "Rising damp" on walls is caused by ground water moving up through a wall. Most walls allow some water in, but it's usually stopped from causing damage by a barrier called a DPC - Damp Proof Course. DPC is usually a horizontal plastic or slate in the wall. 

If DPC is missing or ineffectual, your wall may suffer from rising damp. This type of damp can also happen when the level of the ground outside your home is higher than your DPC, allowing water to get above it.

Rising Damp in theory can  occur for various reasons:

• Inefficient, damaged or non-existing DPC - damp proof course
• Insufficient ventilation
• Situations where the ground is higher than the damp proof course
• Aluminium and bitumenised paper wall coverings
• Cavity insulating materials where no DPC - damp proof course exists
• Poor property maintenance.

Combination of the above will aggravate the situation. The hiding of rising damp by means of lath and plaster, aluminium paper etc., only creates a chimney effect, thereby forcing rising damp even higher than would normally be anticipated.

The actual level at which moisture is visible is governed by the rate of evaporation from the inner surface of the wall. Here the moisture is evaporating from the wall at the same rate as the wall is absorbing the water at ground level. The use of impervious membranes or insulating materials as described above inhibits the rate of evaporating thus causing the damp to rise to a greater height.

Symptom of Rising Damp 

If you have Rising Damp you may notice damaged skirting boards and floorboards, crumbling or salt stained plaster and peeling paint and wallpaper. There may also be a tide marks along the wall. 

If you notice any symptom of Rising Damp give us a call on 077141 87053 or book your     Free Survey and we will come and help you to deal with it.