Rising Damp Treatment
Rising damp is potentially an issue that can affect all buildings. Practically all buildings are surrounded by natural moisture that is trying to get into the dry structure of the building. Materials such as stone and brick are naturally porous and will soak up moisture like a sponge without the aid of a damp proof membrane or rising damp treatment. When a building is constructed, a rising damp treatment is generally installed in the form of a damp proof course in the walls to prevent rising damp appearing however, when this treatment does not exist or becomes damaged the most common result is rising damp.
Unsightly, potentially unhealthy with heat loss due to the conductivity of the walls and often leading to timber decay in older properties, it is important to recognise if you have a rising damp problem and find an appropriate rising damp treatment as soon as possible. Often, the easiest and most reliable way to do this is to contact a specialist rising damp contractor familiar with rising damp problems who is qualified within rising damp treatments.
How to spot if you need Rising Damp Treatment
Fortunately, it can be fairly straight forward to recognise if your property needs rising damp treatment. Tell tale signs of rising damp include a "tide-mark" on the wall above skirting boards of up to 1 metre, peeling wallpaper and possibly white efflorescent salts which have been drawn out of the brickwork by the water. It is also important to note that rising damp only occurs on ground floor levels as it is moisture from the soil which is being drawn up the walls and thus causing the problem. If it is the case that your damp problem is on the first floor or above, it may be that you have a condensation problem. View our Condensation Treatment page for free hints and tips in order to help solve your problem or contact your local Wise Property Care branch for help in identifying your property problem.
Solution: Rising Damp Treatment
Rising damp treatments can vary due to the four different ways rising damp can occur. These being:
1. Naturally Occurring Rising Damp in areas with no effective damp proof course
2. Penetrating Damp due to high or raised ground levels
3. The Weather
4. Dampness caused by faulty plumbing
Typically however, a rising damp treatment usually involves repairing the existing damp proof course or installing a new one. Most commonly this is done by drilling holes in a band around the affected wall and injecting a retrofit chemical or osmotic solution or a physical damp proof membrane and then replacing any salt contaminated plasterwork. If this plasterwork is not properly removed and replaced with specialist salt retardant plaster, the salts that are present in the plaster may continue to absorb moisture from the air and continue, even after the installation of a new retrofit damp proof course, to give the appearance of dampness.
Help & Advice regarding Rising Damp Treatment
It is important to correctly identify the damp problem before going ahead with a form of rising damp treatment. For further information or help on any damp proofing or rising damp problem, call Wise Property Care today on 0800 65 22 678. Alternatively, you can request a Property Repair Survey online. Depending on where your property is, just click on the appropriate link below and we'll arrange a specialists to call or visit you at a time convenient for yourself.
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