“Damp Proofing” in construction, is a type of moisture control applied to building walls and floors to prevent moisture from passing into the interior spaces.
Rising damp is moisture present in your walls as a result of water in the ground underneath or next to your walls rising up through the fabric of the wall. The water travels upwards through the wall as a result of capillary action through the brick or stone. The water stops rising at a height where gravity counteracts the upwards force of the capillary action. (approximately 1.5 meters). The effects of this damp, such as salt deposits (efflorescence) may be seen higher up due to the presence of non-breathing wall coverings such as vinyl wallpaper, non breathing plasters, renders and paints.
Rising damp problems often occur as a result of not having a Damp Proof Course installed or having a DPC that is faulty (or non existent) due to age or inadequate installation, or if it has been breached in any manner.
Typical indicators of rising damp:
• Tide marks on the walls
• Damp patches and staining up a wall from the ground
• Wall paper peeling off walls
• Debonding render
• Delaminating/blistering paint off walls
• Decayed/rotting skirting boards
• Efflorescence
Rising Damp Western Cape – Click here to request a damp assessment