Question 1

What is Rising Damp?

Accepted Answer

Nobody likes to know that there are damp issues in their home, and rising damp can often be one of the most problematic. Rising damp is caused by moisture that is present in your walls as a result of water collecting in the ground underneath or next to the walls, where it will rise up through the structure of the wall. It can occur in almost any wall including walls that are made from bricks, stone, or blocks. Capillary action, where the water is sucked through a small opening through tiny holes in the bricks or stone, leads to the water travelling upwards through the wall. The water will usually stop rising at a height where the gravity will counteract this force and stop it. Rising damp will usually only occur on the ground floor of a property and tends to only reach a maximum height of 1.2m. However, the effects of the damp, like salt deposits on the wall, can be seen higher, especially on walls that are covered in non-breathable coverings like certain paints or vinyl wallpaper.

Question 2

Why You Should Never Ignore Rising Damp Signs?

Accepted Answer

Rising damp in the home is often an indication of a bigger issue with the damp-proof course, which is a waterproof layer designed to stop this problem from occurring. Rising damp can often mean that there is water which is being drained towards, rather than away from your home where it might not only be affecting the walls but also the foundations and ultimately the structure of your home. Along with being unsightly, another reason why rising damp should never be ignored is that it can also be harmful for your health, particularly if the damp leads to mould problems in the future. The spores can lead to respiratory problems, especially in people living in the home who already suffer from issues like asthma or allergies.

Question 3

What are the Main Rising Damp Causes?

Accepted Answer

Rising damp problems will most usually occur as a result of having no damp proof course installed at the home, or where the damp proof course has become faulty due to inadequate installation or age. A damp-proof course is a waterproof layer that is installed in the wall or both walls if you have a cavity wall in your home, which is located around six inches from the outside ground on the exterior walls and under the raised timber or concrete floor on the internal walls. The layer is designed to repel water and prevent damp from occurring in the walls in your home.

In some cases, you can still experience rising damp even if the damp proof course is not damaged and is present. In this case, the damp-proof course might be breached, which means that there is something attached to your walls that has allowed the water to get around the damp proof course and into the walls. This might occur if there is an area of ground located next to the external wall that is higher than the damp proof course or an outside structure that has been installed above it. Rising damp can also be caused by debris that has reached above the level of the damp proof course providing a bridge for the moisture to go over it.