Professional Rising Damp Treatments across the north west

Rising Damp

Rising Damp is a common issue, often arising when the water from the ground rises up through the fine cracks and pores in a property, causing moisture. Rising damp should be treated immediately, as it will often make its way up the walls of a building, acting like a sponge.

Rising Damp Should Not Be Left Untreated

Rising Damp can be a big problem if left untreated. Here at Graham And Son, we have been dealing with rising damp for a number of years, so you can rest assured that your rising damp issues are in safe hands.

Rising Damp can also lead to ‘salts’. If this happens, the damage could range from bubbling paint and plaster through to the disintegration of the wall. If you think your property could be affected by rising damp, you should look out for the following signs: damp patches, tidemarks or blistering on the inside walls, and rotting timber such as skirting boards and floors. If your property has any of these symptoms, please contact our team today to discuss treatments.

What is Rising Damp?

As a relatively rare form of damp affecting the walls of buildings, rising damp occurs when moisture from the ground travels up through the walls. Effectively, this is where ground water is drawn up through tiny tubes in the brickwork. Around the affected wall, other porous building materials such as plasterwork and timber found in the floorboards, joists, and skirtings will also easily absorb the ground water, potentially resulting in wet rot.

What is Damp Coursing?

Damp Coursing is a horizontal barrier in a wall that is designed to prevent moisture rising through the structure by rising damp. Salts from the ground can absorb moisture from the atmosphere, leading to wall dampness when there is high relative humidity. The damp proof course is usually applied at basement levels, restricting the movement of moisture through walls and floors.

Why is Damp Coursing Important?

If damp is left to develop for too long, it can eventually rot and cause significant structural damage to your property. This makes it essential that any damp patches in your property are addressed as soon as possible. Undertaking a damp-proof course helps to prevent damp from the ground rising up the walls and damaging your property. For all new build properties, damp proof courses are a requirement to prevent rising damp from occurring.

What are the Causes of Damp?

• Small roof slopes or faulty junctions between roof slabs and parapet walls can cause damp
• Poor quality construction materials
• Leakage through downpipes can allow moisture in
• Construction faults
• Rainwater falling on outer walls and parapets
• Low-quality roofing allowing rainwater to enter the house

What are the Common Signs of Rising Damp?

Common signs of rising damp include:

• Deterioration of plaster and paint, as well as wallpaper loosening. Externally, mortar may crumble and white salt stains may appear on walls
• Damp or wet patches appearing on walls
• Salts within the plaster
• Flaky or bubbling plaster
• Rotting skirting boards and flooring
• Damp and musty smell
• Rusting iron and steel fasteners
• Crumbling bricks and mortar between bricks

What are the Causes of Rising Damp?

Most buildings have a damp-proof course barrier installed at the lower level of the wall to prevent water rising up. Over time, the damp course barrier can fail, allowing water to travel up walls, which can lead to rising damp.

How Can Rising Damp Be Treated?

The most effective and cost-efficient method of treating rising damp is with a damp proofing injection cream. This cream can be injected or hand-pumped into specially positioned holes in the mortar course. Once applied, it reverts to a liquid that penetrates the bricks and creates a water-repellent barrier to prevent water rising up the wall.

Alternatively, a new damp proof membrane can be installed to act as a damp-proof course, which involves removing individual bricks along the failed mortar course and installing a new physical membrane.

To treat rising damp on internal walls, any wallpaper and plaster back to the bricks or substrate must be removed, as well as on external walls. After these steps, the walls need to be replastered.

Contact Our Team for Rising Damp Treatments Today!

Before treating any rising damp, we first carry out an extensive survey of the property to identify the source of the damp. Once identified, our team of experts will carry out the appropriate course of action to ensure the rising damp is treated effectively.

If your property is suffering from rising damp, please do not hesitate to contact Graham And Son today for more information.

If you like, I can also combine both your Rising Damp and Damp Coursing sections into one polished, client-friendly guide for Graham And Son, so it reads as a professional webpage or brochure. This would make it much more cohesive. Do you want me to do that?