Rising Damp

It doesn't sound like a particularly interesting topic, however a quick search on the worlds favourite internet search engine will show that in some circles rising damp is a very hot topic indeed. The trouble is that it appears that it could indeed be some type of religion or god; does it exist, or doesn't it? The truth of the matter is that rising damp does indeed exist in one form or another, but it is often misdiagnosed, or you can often pay for expensive treatment that really isn't necessary.

Rising damp in buildings may be defined as the vertical flow of water up through a permeable wall structure, the water being derived from ground water. The water rises through the pores (capillaries) in the masonary by a process loosely termed "capillarity." In other words the masonry acts like a wick The common causes are deterioration due to age and bridging of a damp course with internal concrete floors, renders or external paths and earth levels (a damp course is specifically designed to avoid the possibility of rising damp- it is built of a matter of course in all new buildings).

If your house does have a problem (something we will discuss later) then it can cause the following symptons:

For inside walls

• Paint does not adhere to the wall.

• Wall paper lifts and stains appear on the walls.

• Plaster flakes away, feels soft and spongy, bubbles and white powder or crystals appear.

• Skirting boards and floor boards rot.

For outside walls

• Mortar frets and falls out between bricks and stonework.

• Stains or white powder appear on walls.

These problems are mainly aesthetic problems only, however it is conceivable that structural damage could result from extensive rising damp, and of course a damp mouldy environment could pose a health risk to people.

Obviously if you have any of the above symptoms then it is possible that your home is suffering from rising damp, and it would be advisable to get an 'expert' in to look at your home. However this is where you will face a major problem; who is an expert , and who is just a 'cowboy' out to diagnose you with the "worst case of rising damp that he has ever seen, which can only be solved with the most expensive treatment on the market"? Unfortunately there are a lot of companies out there who have targets to meet and profits to make, and the way they do this is by over zealous diagnosing, and charge you hefty fees for carrying out work that may, or may not, fix the problem.

The major problem is that any damp-proofing salesman that you employ to look at your home will use a 'rising damp meter'. These meters are supposed to measure the moisture in materials, however what they actually do is measure the electrical conductance. The idea being that the better the conductance (the ease at which electricity flows) the higher the water content. However these meters can only be calibrated for one material, and that is usually timber. So they will give reasonable results for wood and possibly some plasters, but for bricks, wallpaper and concrete they will give readings that are way too high. Thus they can be used (by unscrupulous salespeople) to indicate that you have rising damp "because the meters says so" when in fact you have a perfectly normal wall.

In summary if you can visibly see a problem with your wall, with obvious signs of damage due to water or salty tide marks then you may have a problem with rising damp, and you will need to try to find a reliable expert to come in and look at your problem. However be very, very wary of any 'expert' who has been employed to do a general survey of your house, or indeed comes around offering a free check up of your building. If they pull out one of these moisture meters, jab it into the wall a few times and declare that you have a major problem, then it is entirely possible that they are a commission based salesperson trying to extract money from you.

Generally, if the wall looks okay, it is okay. If it looks like it is damp, mouldy or has tide marks on it, then you have a problem with moisture, condensation, or rising damp in your home, and you need to investigate things further.

About The Author

Alastair Taylor runs a DIY website that tries to give the consumer the truth about home improvement jobs. Visit http://www.whatprice.co.uk to saves yourself time and money

---

Tips for Designing with Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floor styles come in strips, planks and parquet, and... Read More

Planning Permission UK - Tactics if Appealing to the DOE for a Planning Refusal

Tactics of Appealing to the DOE - There will be... Read More

Home Automation Enhances Your Lifestyle and Saves Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications

Wouldn't it be nice to have your home take care... Read More

Homeowners ? Here is a Step by Step Guide to Help You Hire a Quality Home Improvement Contractor

Before talking to any contractors the first thing to do... Read More

Log Homes - Finding the Perfect Log Home Plan

One of the first steps in building a log home... Read More

Fire Hazard Alert - Is Your Dryer Ready to Ignite

In recent years there has been many stories about dryers... Read More

Buying the Right Garage Door Opener

If you have recently built a new garage you might... Read More

Vintage Labels on Marble Tiles

It's refreshing to note that gone are the days that... Read More

Bathroom Interior Design

Any advice or guide on the interior design of a... Read More

Imported Tools vs. Brand Name - Are They As Good?

So you are looking for hand or power tools on... Read More

Repairing Your Own Machine Components

Many industrial concerns have workshops of their own. For the... Read More

Inspecting your Swimming Pool

With the varied availability of swimming pool equipment and designs,... Read More

Popular Trends in Home Technology

As a former home automation installer and a former manufactures... Read More

I Need What Part?

One of the first things you learn as a homeowner... Read More

Spring Home Projects in Northern New England

As I sit on a plane in route from Chicago... Read More

How To Identify A Quality Interior Shutter

1. Shutters have proper louver tensionThe shutters louvers should be... Read More

Get Your Home Ready To Sell

Have you been considering selling your home in the near... Read More

How To Choose The Canvas For Your Awning

The main factor for the canvas for your awning, it's... Read More

Choosing Window Frames

There are three main types of material used to manufacture... Read More

What to Know Before Signing a Home Improvement Contract

It is important to be a very careful consumer when... Read More

How to Deal With Contractors

Not everyone is aware of how to deal with contractors.... Read More

Planning For a New Deck

Part of the fun of a new deck is the... Read More

Mexican Artisans Promote the Use of Recycled Copper in the Fabrication of Their World Famous Copper

For many years copper has been the main raw material... Read More

New Trends in Design & Comfortable Living

For the past several years I have seen the emergence... Read More

How to build an energy-efficient home

There are just a few important things to know and... Read More

About Lighting Your Home

Lighting is such a critical part of any home improvement... Read More

Buyers Guide For Copper MailBoxes

Mailboxes crafted from copper give you traditional elegance and extraordinary... Read More

You Say Jacuzzi and I Say Whirlpool

What's in a name? Whirlpool baths have been around forever,... Read More

Styles And Varieties Of Locking Mailboxes For Sale

Locking mailboxes made from durable, weatherproof materials are highly desirable... Read More

Electrical Savings System; Save up to 40% on Your Electric Bill Every Month

Once a month there's an electric bill coming in the... Read More

Colors: Their Connotations and Perceived Meanings

Throughout the ages, colors have been used to evoke certain... Read More

Daydreaming About Your Home Makeover Projects

Most of us enjoy daydreaming about our perfect home. Do... Read More

Chimney Cap Checklist: Four Quick Ways to Evaluate Your Existing Chimney Cap

While you are cleaning leaves out of your home's gutters,... Read More