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WHAT IS RISING DAMP AND PENETRATING DAMP?

Moisture rising up a wall or “rising damp”, sometimes also known as "salt damp", often occurs at the base of a wall. This is due to the capillary action of the brickwork ‘wicking’ up moisture from around the base of the wall.

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Penetrating damp is where moisture penetrates though a wall from the outside. Rising and penetrating damp can be caused my many reasons including leaking pipes, poor ventilation or inadequate drainage. However, most causes of excessive damp in a building are due to design or modifications to the building and surrounding grounds.

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Signs of rising and penetrating damp are;

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  • Damp patches that start at the base of a wall

  • Skirting boards or plaster that is damp or rotting

  • Tiles, carpet or floor coverings are damp, wet, lifting or mouldy

  • Peeling paint and wallpaper

  • Damp musty smell

  • Walls, floors and ceilings that feel cold or damp

  • Mould or mildew on walls, floors and ceiling

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Solutions for rising damp include;

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  • Allowing adequate air-flow to remove the moisture laden air from the room

  • Removing dirt and leaf matter from around the base of the house

  • Clearing blocked building vents

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More technical solutions can include injecting application-specific materials into the area, curtain injection of the outside of wall from inside, building modifications, sub-floor ventilation, and negative-side waterproofing.

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We have extensive experience in providing common sense solutions for rising damp and penetrating damp mitigation, and waterproofing solutions for all applications.

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