Rising Damp Treatment in Belfast
Told you have rising damp? We check that it really is, before you pay for treatment.
2009PCA Technician of the Year
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PCAtrained surveyor
The short answer
Rising damp is ground water travelling up through porous brick or stone walls by capillary action, usually only to about a metre. It is often wrongly blamed for damp that is really penetrating damp or condensation, so a proper diagnosis comes first.
Signs of rising damp
- A tide mark on the wall, usually below about one metre
- Damp, peeling or blistering paint and plaster near the floor
- Crumbling plaster and white salt deposits
- Rotting skirting boards
- Damp that is worse in wet weather but never fully dries
What causes rising damp?
Groundwater is drawn up through porous masonry by capillary action. It happens where there is no damp-proof course, or an old DPC has failed or been bridged, for example by raised external ground levels or a render or concrete path built up against the wall. The water carries salts that damage plaster and decoration.
How we diagnose it
We look for the evidence that separates rising damp from look-alikes: the height and pattern of the damp, the condition of any DPC, external ground levels and nearby defects.
How we treat it
- Survey to confirm it is rising damp and not another cause
- Remove anything bridging the damp-proof course, such as raised ground levels
- Install or repair a damp-proof barrier
- Replace salt-contaminated plaster, then redecorate once dry
Rising Damp Treatment FAQs
Is it really rising damp?
Often it is not. Penetrating damp and condensation are commonly mistaken for rising damp, which is why we diagnose before we treat.
How high does rising damp go?
Usually up to about a metre, though salts and moisture can show higher in some walls.
Do I need to replaster after treatment?
Usually yes, because plaster that has been contaminated by salts keeps attracting moisture.
Think you have rising damp?
Book a survey and get an honest answer on what needs doing, and what does not.
or call 077 0728 0594
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Damp or timber problem?
Book a survey and get an honest answer on what needs doing.