If you are a homeowner who is concerned about rising damp in your property, then it’s important that you act quickly and get it treated. This is because if left untreated, it can lead to further damage and may even cause legal issues.
Why has my house suddenly become damp?
A full survey with an electrical moisture meter is a helpful tool to determine whether there is a moisture problem or not. Once you have an accurate moisture profile you can start to identify the causes of your rising damp issue, and whether structural repairs are necessary or if a simpler approach such as a new damp-proof course might be all that’s required.
The most effective method of treating rising dampness involves physically dealing with the cause of the problem, rather than simply patching up any symptoms. This means unblocking the cavity wall and removing whatever is causing it to bridge up.
Once this is done, it is a good idea to replace any skirting boards that are hanging above the affected wall, and hack off any salt-contaminated plaster. Then the plaster can be re-plastered using a high quality plaster that is designed to cope with salts traces and prevent them from damaging the wall.
Alternatively, you could choose to use a chemical DPC which can be injected directly into the masonry to treat the problem from the inside. This is a much more effective and permanent way of dealing with rising damp, but does require specialist equipment to apply it.