Rising Damp Treatment

Rising Damp Treatment in the South West

Rising damp is not the most common form of damp in buildings. It’s surprisingly rare compared to issues such as excess condensation.

If left untreated, rising damp can lead to decorative damage such as peeling wallpaper and blistering paint, breakdown of masonry due to salt contamination, and increased heat loss as damp walls lose insulating performance.

Where rising damp is suspected, our team at Biocraft South West provide expert damp surveys and inspections, followed by tailored damp proofing solutions to identify the cause and protect your property long-term.

Contact our team today – we’re always happy to help.

Worried about rising damp? Contact us and we’ll deliver safe, effective, and long-lasting damp-proofing solutions for your home.

What Is Rising Damp?

Rising damp is the upward movement of groundwater through walls and masonry structures.

Brickwork, mortar and stone all contain microscopic pores that can draw moisture upwards through a process known as capillary action. The extent to which moisture can rise depends on several factors, including:

The porosity of the masonry
The type of mortar used
The moisture content of the ground
The condition of the damp proof course
The presence of bridged damp proofing systems

Rising Damp is uncommon, but once it develops in a property, symptoms will appear typically at floor level and begin to move upwards – hence the name.

As the moisture is sourced from the ground, Rising Damp will typically worsen during periods of heavy rainfall and colder seasons where the moisture cannot be evaporated easily by warmer, dryer weather.

What Causes Rising Damp?

The most common cause of rising damp is failure of the damp proof course (DPC).

A damp proof course acts as a barrier between the ground and the building, preventing moisture from moving upwards through the walls. Rising damp can develop when:

The original damp proof course has deteriorated

No damp proof course was installed

External ground levels have been raised

Internal floor levels bridge the damp proof course

External render or plaster bridges the damp proof course

Landscaping or paving prevents the wall from drying properly

Be aware that legitimate Rising Damp is rather uncommon, as Damp Proof Courses have been common since the late 1800s, and any fully CSRT and CSSW qualified engineer should ensure the DPC is intact and effective during any building work or renovations. Rising damp can arise in rare cases of bridging, failure, damage, or poor workmanship.

At Biocraft South West, we recommend a thorough damp survey to investigate possible bridging issues before a replacement damp proof course is recommended – as this is the most common reason as a property gets renovated over the years.

Signs of Rising Damp

Many forms of dampness can appear similar at first glance, and many people confuse Rising Damp for the more common Penetrating Damp. However, rising damp often presents with distinctive symptoms closer to floor level.

Common signs include:

Tide marks on internal walls
Damp staining at low level
Peeling paint and wallpaper
Crumbling plaster
White salt deposits on wall surfaces
Decayed skirting boards
Persistent musty odours
Cold, damp wall surfaces

These symptoms occur because moisture carries ground salts into the wall structure. As the moisture evaporates, salts are left behind and continue to affect decorative finishes and plasterwork.

If you suspect Rising Damp in your property, Biocraft South West’s specialist surveyors can ensure your property is accurately diagnosed.

We provide professional damp surveys and damp proofing solutions across Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, including Bath, Bristol, Swindon and surrounding areas.

Hygroscopic Salts and Secondary Dampness

Why Walls Can Remain Damp After Treatment

One of the most misunderstood aspects of rising damp is the role played by hygroscopic salts.

As groundwater moves through masonry, it carries naturally occurring salts including chlorides and nitrates into the wall structure. These salts become deposited within plasterwork and masonry as moisture evaporates.

Once present, hygroscopic salts can attract moisture from the atmosphere even after the original source of dampness has been eliminated.

This means a wall may continue to appear damp despite a successful damp proof course repair or replacement.

Because of this, treatment often requires more than simply stopping moisture movement. Salt-contaminated plaster usually needs to be removed and replaced to prevent ongoing moisture-related defects.

How Rising Damp Is Treated

Biocraft South West diagnoses & provides long-lasting treatment for Rising Damp.

Step 1: Establish the Source

Any effective treatment begins with a professional damp survey.

Our surveyors investigate the building fabric, moisture patterns, damp proof course condition, external ground levels and potential bridging defects.

Step 2: Repair Property Defects, including Faulty or Bridged Damp Proof Course

Where a fault is identified, our expert PCA-accredited engineers implement effective, long-lasting solutions, tailored to your property’s needs.

For a DPC, this may include removing bridging material or repairing the damaged section of wall. In some circumstances, we may suggest chemical damp proofing, by injecting specialist thixotropic creams into the mortar bed of the wall. Once cured, these materials create a water-repellent barrier that prevents moisture rising from the ground.

Step 3: Specialist Replastering

Installing a damp proof course alone does not address salt contamination already present within the wall.

Following damp proof course installation, contaminated plaster should normally be removed and replaced with a specialist renovating render designed to:

Resist residual moisture
Prevent salt migration
Create a suitable surface for decoration
Improve long-term performance

Without appropriate replastering, hygroscopic salts may continue to affect the wall surface.

By working with Biocraft South West, you gain access to CSRT and CCSW qualified specialists, who ensure your damp solution will protect your home for the long term.

Why Choose Biocraft South West?

We’re the leading Rising Damp Specialists

Rising damp is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed moisture problems affecting UK properties.

At Biocraft South West, we take a diagnostic-led approach to rising damp investigations, ensuring the true source of moisture is identified before any remedial work is recommended.

Guaranteed accurate diagnosis before treatment

Effective treatment starts with understanding exactly where moisture is present within the property. Many properties are incorrectly treated for rising damp when another source of moisture is responsible.

Without inspection from a PCA-accredited professional, you run the risk of unnecessary or ineffective remedial work.

Our experienced surveyors assess all potentials, including damp proof condition, signs of DPC bridging, moisture distribution, salt contamination, ventilation & environmental factors, alongside other potential sources of moisture ingress that may not align with Rising Damp.

By identifying the true root cause, we can ensure any recommended treatment is both appropriate and effective.

Qualified PCA Damp Surveyors

All Biocraft South West surveyors hold recognised CSRT and CSSW qualifications and operate in accordance with Property Care Association standards.

Our experience in diagnosing and treating rising damp across properties throughout the South West allows us to provide professional advice you can rely on, whether you are a homeowner, landlord, property purchaser or managing agent.

Rising Damp Treatment