Rising damp is one of the most obvious and unpleasant “features” of a home and can significantly devalue properties.
As dampness “travels”, the source of the problem often isn’t where it appears on the wall. We use a tool called a “damp-meter” to assist us in isolating the source of the problem. This ensures that we locate the exact point in which water is getting into the wall, so that we know our remedy will in fact cure the problem.
There are different remedies available depending on what is required to solve the rising damp issue.
Internal/External - Rising damp can affect both internal and external walls. Watering systems, or heavy weather conditions can subject external walls to rising damp. Visible signs for external walls include fretting mortar, paint/render peeling off or salt marks on the bricks The two main causes for rising damp on internal walls are both a breakdown of the original dampcourse plus rubble between the walls in the cavity. Signs of rising damp for internal walls include bubbling paintwork, a damp smell or a watermark. The remedy for both, is to remove the render or plaster, leaving the bricks exposed, cut out the lowest course of bricks, clean out the cavity of all debris, replace the bricks and then re-render or plaster once again, ready for painting.