How to spot, treat, and defeat rising damp

Want to get to the root cause of rising damp once and for all so that you can damp proof your home like a pro? Great idea!

Here at the Federation of Damp, we can connect you with an expert who will quickly deal with rising damp on internal walls so that you can damp roof your home the right way.

Every expert we recommend offers a damp proof course that is sure to get to the bottom of things so that you no longer have an issue with rising damp. Just what you want to hear when you don’t feel qualified to install a physical damp proof membrane yourself.

What are the signs of rising damp?

The first signs of rising damp include, but are not limited to:

• A persistent musty smell throughout your home
• Peeling wallpaper that no longer adheres to the wall
• Peeling paint and plaster due to excess moisture
• Damp patches on the lower sections of your walls

If left untreated, rising damp on internal walls will result in structural damage, cause you and your loved ones chronic breathing issues, and significantly reduce the value of your property.

Before we go further, we need to clarify which damp proof course you need by looking at the two main types of damp.

Don’t worry about carrying the can for the misdiagnosis of rising damp though — your Federation of Damp professional will always recommend the right cause of action. Just what you want to hear when you need to know that you can access the correct rising damp treatment without delay.

Difference between penetrating damp and rising damp

Penetrating damp is when water gets into your property via your external walls and it is one of the most common forms of damp.

Rising damp on internal walls is different in that rather than the water coming through the external walls, it is being sucked out of the ground.

Poorly sealed foundations and external walls are to blame and rising damp is often started by seemingly innocuous issues that take to manifest themselves.

Capillary action causes your walls and foundations to suck water out of the ground, resulting in a tide mark on your walls that signifies the full height of the damp caused by these issues.

The problem is that, once inside your property, everything from skirting boards to ceilings will be impacted as the moisture content in the air increases.

A common rising damp myth is that it stays on the lower floor of your home and that solving a rising damp issue is as simple as turning up the heating and opening a window.

While the common signs of rising damp start downstairs, making identifying rising damp relatively easy, a rising damp survey will likely indicate far more extensive issues throughout your home.

Rising damp on your external walls

Due to the complexity of treating rising damp in external walls, we recommend hiring experts who have industry-recognised professional qualifications. Only then will you know that the slate damp proof course, damp proofing cream, or any other form of damp treatment is 100% suitable and effective.

Hiring a professional will also make sure that issues caused by a rare form of damp that is also present are put right without delay. Exactly what you want to hear when it’s time to defeat rising damp external walls and rising damp internal walls the smart way.

While many DIY ‘experts’ may consider rising damp a myth that doesn’t cause many issues outside of the basement or cellar, you know better now that you have found us.

The peace of mind that an expert can provide when you see evidence of rising damp and that your walls attract moisture cannot be overstated.

What causes rising damp in internal walls and how to fix it?

The cause of rising damp in internal walls is capillary action whereby the pores in the wall have not been correctly sealed, allowing them to suck up groundwater. While the correct damp proof course can put rising damp right, investing in at as soon as possible will reduce the cost by limiting the time for damage to occur and build up.

Every professional rising damp treatment will include a detailed look at the tide mark, issues around skirting boards, and an in-depth check to ensure the professional is correctly identifying rising damp.

Issues such as salt contamination on the walls on your ground floor can also be dealt with, as can ground-level cosmetic issues that may require a new mortar course to put them right.

Because a visible stain often appears, and one of the myths around rising damp is that they go away with a little heat, every effective damp proof course will go much deeper:

• Detailed checks to whether you have rising damp, condensation, or penetrating damp
• Replacement of plaster due to rising damp because salt stains may appear
• A comprehensive talk on the right mortar course to protect your whole home
• Advice on whether external mortar may crumble as well as your property experiencing internal issues

By starting at ground level and then working upwards, you will get to the bottom of issues associated with rising damp, such as salt deposits.

We can also connect you with a certificated surveyor in structural issues and a certificated surveyor in remedial treatments. It’s the only way to get on top of the issues groundwater will cause throughout the ground floor of your property.

While rising damp is a relatively simple problem to fix for a professional, it’s an issue that you need to get solved ASAP.

You only have to look at photographs of rising damp online to see that you may need far more than extensive, costly plastering after treating rising damp.

We recommend you reach out for damp proof cause that will defeat rising damp as soon as possible.

And to help you understand the cause of rising damp and so that you know your rising damp solution options, we’ve answered your most common questions below.

Is rising damp a serious problem?

Yes, and a professional damp proof course is the only way to effectively treat a house with rising damp.

Injection treatments to reduce groundwater penetration, specialist membrane installations, and a variety of in-depth rework are required to damp proof a property that has a consistent damp and must smell.

Can you treat rising damp with DIY?

While you can do this in principle, it’s going to be a lot more complicated than simply buying some damp-proofing cream online.

If you want to eliminate the damp and musty smell, the tide mark the rising damp caused and issues with peeling wallpaper and skirting boards, you need to invest in a professional damp proof course.

Is buying a property with rising damp safe?

Just as buying a property with penetrating damp is not a good idea, a property riddled with rising damp is best avoided.

You will encounter a rising damp smell like stagnant, foul air that never seems to leave.

Any surveyor in structural waterproofing will advise you against making the purchase until the seller has proven the issues have gone away for good.

The ground floor of your property may become completely uninhabitable in a short space of time due to complex ground-level water issues that are too complicated to put right yourself.

How can you stop rising damp?

Rising damp, much like penetrating damp, is best solved by hiring the skills and services of an expert.

Rather than looking at cosmetic and aesthetic symptoms, they will get to the bottom of the root causes that are creating the issues with your property.

Expect them to talk about injection treatments and damp proof membranes as part of their custom quotation.

Is rising damp expensive to fix?

You may have to pay several thousand pounds to fix an issue that only seems to be causing peeling wallpaper right now.

While you might feel that you can patch things up for a fraction of the price and that you have a relatively rare form of damp that will cure itself, this is never going to be the case, unfortunately.

What are the first signs of rising damp?

Peeling wallpaper and paint tend to jump out at you because of how noticeable they are. This is a sure sign that the walls are taking up too much water from the ground.

How do I know if we have rising damp?

You will see a tide mark on the wall, have a musty smell, and your wallpaper will begin to peel.

Can rising damp be fixed?

Yes, your walls and foundations need to be sealed off from the ground below in a watertight way so that moisture is no longer sucked up into your property.

What can be mistaken for rising damp?

Some DIY enthusiasts may confuse low-level penetrating damp on the ground floor with rising damp, but this is a mistake as the nature of the damp proof course required is rather different.

Can I fix rising damp yourself?

We would advise against trying to fix it yourself as it is far more complicated than a weekend DIY project. We would also say the same thing about trying to go about solving penetrating damp by yourself.

Can you treat rising damp without removing the plaster?

The best approach is to consult a trained damp specialist and surveyor so that they can ascertain the full extent of the problem. Even if the damp proofing recommendations cost a little more than you were expecting, you can see them as a smart investment in the future value and integrity of your property.

How do you dry out rising damp?

Your damp specialist will be able to advise on how to use heaters and dehumidifiers to keep rising damp at bay once the initial round of root-cause treatments have been carried out.