Rising Damp | Global Preservation

Rising Damp Services

Rising Damp is moisture from the ground that migrates up a brick/masonry wall by a force known as ‘capillary action’. The moisture brings with it salts and minerals from the ground that can cause the deterioration of decorative surfaces and the break down of structural components in a masonry structure including renders and mortars.

Due to natural evaporation from the surface of walls, rising damp rarely occurs above a height of 1.5 metres unless forced higher by being sandwiched between 2 impervious layers of render, paint or wall paper. Temporary measures like cleaning the surface, re-plastering or repainting can actually make the situation worse.

If left untreated, this floor moisture may result in mould and mildew. Mould is a recognised allergen and irritant, which releases tiny spores that can travel in the air. These spores often have micro toxins and allergens attached to them and have been identified as a trigger for respiratory problems such as asthma, flu, and fatigue. Mould gradually digests and destroys whatever it grows on.

As this moisture is under the floor, the problem may remain unnoticed until it has caused serious health problems and has cost you a lot in repairs, etc. Preventing dampness under the home or fixing it early will keep you and your family healthy.

This is why rising damp treatment in Dundee is absolutely critical. Why let these problems ruin your life when with just one phone call to Global Preservation you can have one of their technicians call ‘round, professionally assess your home, and recommend relevant solutions to your problem.

The rising damp also carries with it hydroscopic salts (nitrates, sulphates and sodium chloride) and as dampness evaporates from the wall surface the salts are deposited in the plasterwork, which build up into a concentration that can absorb moisture from the air making the situation critical.

Rising damp repair methods

The most common factors that can cause rising damp include; the absence or poor condition of a Damp Proof Course (DPC), plumbing issues (e.g. storm water systems), or bridging from raised garden beds, concrete slabs or pathways.  In many cases, the most effective method to stop rising damp is to install a new DPC to block the migration of moisture up a masonry wall.

The first method we use involves the replacement of the original damp-proof course. Damp-proof coursing is a physical barrier that prevents water and soluble salts from rising through the walls. If it is improperly installed or just worn out, replacing it can rectify your rising damp woes. Our team will remove the bottom course of bricks in stages, clean out the cavity to prevent water bridging into the internal walls – as well as increasing airflow inside the cavity – and relay a new, impervious damp-proof layer before resetting the brickwork.

In some cases, however, we will instead recommend chemical injection. As the name suggests, this solution involves the installation of a silicone-based cream into the lowest mortar joints of the walls. The cream is designed to spread throughout the joints by capillary action, forming a new and impervious damp-proof layer with no need to remove bricks. Chemical injection is ideally suitable for single leaf walls, as well as both new and old mortared walls.

How do you know if you’ve got rising damp?

Here’s some obvious signs of rising damp in your home: bubbling or flaking paint, bubbling render, bubbling plaster, Moss or mold growth, A damp odor or musty smell, Rotting skirting or flooring, Crumbling bricks , Fretting mortar, Tuckpointing falling off.

significantly devalue properties.

Rising damp is one of the most obvious and unpleasant “features” of a home and can significantly devalue properties. Rising damp can occur on external walls or internal walls. As dampness ‘travels’, the source of the problem often isn’t where it appears on the wall. At Global Preservation, we use a moisture-meter to assist us in isolating the source of your rising damp problem. This ensures that we locate the walls affected by water ingress and that we know our remedy will in fact solve the problem.

Rising Damp Services

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Rising damp repair methods

How do you know if you’ve got rising damp?

significantly devalue properties.