Rising Damp

Rising damp occurs when moisture from the ground moves upward through porous building materials such as brick, block or mortar.

In most properties, a damp-proof course is designed to prevent this movement. Problems can occur where the damp-proof course is missing, damaged, bridged or no longer performing effectively.

Typical symptoms can include:

• Damp or discoloured patches at low level
• Peeling paint or wallpaper
• Crumbling or blown plaster
• White salt deposits on walls
• Damaged skirting boards
• Musty smells
• Timber deterioration close to floor level

These symptoms can also be caused by other defects, which is why diagnosis is important.

Not every damp wall has rising damp.

Similar symptoms can be caused by penetrating damp, plumbing leaks, condensation, high external ground levels, bridged damp-proof courses or defective drainage.

PPS investigates the likely source of moisture before recommending treatment.

This survey-led approach helps avoid unnecessary remedial work.

Depending on the property, the investigation may include:

• Visual inspection of affected walls
• Moisture testing
• Assessment of damp patterns
• Inspection of external ground levels
• Checking for bridged damp-proof courses
• Investigation of adjacent floors and skirting
• Consideration of drainage and external defects
• Identification of salt contamination

The purpose is to establish whether rising damp is genuinely present and what is causing it.

The correct treatment depends on the construction of the property and the cause of the problem.

Remedial work may include:

• Damp-proof membrane systems
• Removal of contaminated plaster
• Specialist replastering
• Remedial work to bridged damp-proof courses
• Improvements to external ground levels
• Repairs to associated building defects

PPS does not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. The recommended solution is based on the findings of the investigation.

Where rising damp has been present for some time, salts can migrate into the plaster.

These salts can continue to attract moisture even after the original source of damp has been controlled.

For that reason, damaged or contaminated plaster may need to be removed and replaced as part of the overall repair.

Our regular service area extends approximately between:

• Newcastle to the north
• Barnard Castle to the west
• Northallerton to the south
• Saltburn and the North Yorkshire coast to the east

Within this area, PPS regularly works in towns and communities including:

• Stockton-on-Tees
• Middlesbrough
• Hartlepool
• Billingham
• Yarm
• Eaglescliffe
• Thornaby
• Ingleby Barwick
• Wynyard
• Sedgefield
• Darlington
• Stokesley
• Guisborough
• Redcar
• Saltburn
• Northallerton
• Barnard Castle
• Within this area, PPS regularly works in towns and communities, including:

If you are concerned about damp appearing at low level on walls, contact PPS to arrange an appropriate inspection or survey.