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. 

Rising damp is unsightly, potentially unhealthy, often leads to timber decay in older properties and causes heat loss due to the conductivity of the walls.  This is why 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

Sotting a rising damp issue can usually be done by looking for visual clues and by touch. 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.

For more information about spotting rising damp, visit our identifying rising damp web page.

Rising damp treatment - fixing the problem

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.

Speak to a rising damp treatment specialist

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. 

Request a Property Repair Survey in Scotland
Request a Property Repair Survey in England & Wales with Timberwise

With our 20 year Property Repair Guarantee, you will have the piece of mind that your rising damp problems will soon be over.

Further rising damp treatment help & advice

For more information on rising damp or other damp related issues, check out the following web pages:

	What is rising damp Find out more about what rising damp is and how the problem may have occurred.  Check out our 'what is rising damp' web page. More about what is rising damp
	Identifying rising damp Not sure what to look out for with rising damp?  Check out our guide to identifying rising damp.   More about identifying rising damp
	Rising damp survey Still unsure if you have a rising damp problem or another damp related problem. Contract Wise Property Care for a no obligation damp survey. Request a rising damp survey
	Unsure if the problem is rising damp Unsure is your problem is rising damp?  Check out our damp proofing web page to help you identify your damp problem. More about damp proofing