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

---

Ten Things You May Not Know About Selecting Hardwood Flooring

1) Red Oak is not the only choiceIf you want... Read More

How to Troubleshoot Video Problems

Few things can be as frustrating as picture problems. You... Read More

How to Layout Recessed Lighting

One of the most important principles to understand when designing... Read More

Bathroom Remodel - The Plan

Planning a bathroom remodel? Each home project of this nature... Read More

Building a Home Addition

Besides providing your home with more living space, a home... Read More

Replacement or Retrofit Style Frame? Which is Right for You?

Last week I told you how to measure for your... Read More

5 Easy Steps to Protect Your Hardwood Floor From Disaster

Common knowledge states that hardwood floors are a great investment... Read More

Conventional Steam Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas

The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for... Read More

FAQs About Using Stone In Your Home

1. Q. IS NATURAL STONE A GOOD CHOICE FOR HOME... Read More

Enjoy The Beauty Of Hardwood With The Endurance Of Laminate Flooring

Everyone likes the beautiful, timeless look of hardwood floors. Elegant,... Read More

Unfinished Furniture - Finish It Yourself!

Unfinished furniture has started to become extremely popular in the... Read More

Home Inspection Basics

The Home InspectorWhen you think about it, it is a... Read More

Have You Considered Fluorescent Lighting for Your Home?

Many of us know that fluorescent lighting is common in... Read More

Making the Most of a Small Bathroom

In bathroom terms at least, bigger doesn't have to be... Read More

New Jersey Home Remodeling

The U.S. state of New Jersey lies on the Eastern... Read More

Brighten Up Your Shelves With Picture Frames

Would you like to add a personal touch to your... Read More

The Cost of Remodeling a Bathroom

Before beginning any bathroom remodeling, you should create a budget.... Read More

Tips and Suggestions To Help You Plan and Build Your Own Log Home

Log Cabin Homes: They have come a long way. Here... Read More

Metal Carports: Steel Carport Guide

Buying a carport to protect your investment can be a... Read More

The Four Major Types of Air Filters

Hygienic air is essential to human life, and in this... Read More

Here Comes The Sun: Solar Energy is Becoming More Attractive for Mainstream Consumers

The price of a barrel of oil has never been... Read More

Get New Floors And Save A Bundle When You Do It Yourself

After years of use, your floor will need to be... Read More

How To Care For Your Leather Furniture

Leather is the most durable fabric used for furniture today.... Read More

The Organized Move: Preparing Your Home for the Publics Eye

(This is the first in a series of three articles... Read More

Add Value to Your House - Interior Remodelling

Interior remodeling can have an amazing impact on the look... Read More

Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings

More and more construction is being done with steel in... Read More

Contractor Referral

"As a contractor with 16 years of experience and speaking... Read More

3 Kinds Of Wood Used In Real Wood Furniture

Real wood furniture is the most popular furniture in existence.... Read More

How I Got A Robot To Vacuum The House

Like most people I really hated to vacuum the house.... Read More

Duct Cleaning - Proper Principals and Practices

As a qualified duct cleaning contractor I have discovered that... Read More

Planning Kitchen Remodeling

Planning kitchen remodeling If you are planning to remodel your... Read More

Art and Design

Maybe you've faced it before ? a new house with... Read More

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Bathroom remodeling is often a popular home improvement project for... Read More