- Call us: 0203 488 2954 or 07972312124
- Mon → Sat : 9am-5pm
- Email: info@lkdampproofing.co.uk
Rising Damp
What is it?
Rising damp is the name given to the process of water in the ground entering a property by travelling up through the pores in brickwork – also known as capillary action. Usually, the damp will stop when gravity and evaporation impede the pull of the capillary action, and this usually results in a visible “tide-mark” around 1m high. That said, other signs of damp may be visible above 1m due to non-porous renders or paint on the wall.
Typically walls will be surrounded by porous materials like plaster, timber and wallpaper and this is where a lot of the aesthetic damage will be noticed as these materials rot and deteriorate. Groundwater also contains salts that travel up through the bricks and cause white marks to form on the internal wall – another common sign of rising damp.
What causes rising damp?
During construction, a damp proof course should be installed into a mortar joint of low level brickwork to prevent water travelling through the brickwork to cause damp.
In old buildings, the original damp proof courses can begin to breakdown or get damaged. Normally, you will not even be aware the damp proof course has failed until you begin to notice the typical tell tale signs of rising damp.
A common cause of rising damp in newer buildings is the damp-proof course being ‘bridged’. This can be caused by a few things. Raising the external ground level above the DPC, re-plastered or newly rendered walls or a build up of debris and building materials in a cavity wall can all cause bridging.
Interested? Give our team a call today!
If you’re interested in any of our London & Kent Damp-proofing services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team of experts will be happy to answer any questions you have.
You can speak to us by calling 0203 488 2954 or by sending an email to info@lkdampproofing.co.uk