How To Treat Rising Damp This Autumn

As we approach the end of summer and move towards autumn time, the weather usually become wetter. Due to the heightened occurrence of rain at this time of year, cases of rising damp are known to increase in all kinds of properties. Many older buildings are far more susceptible to rising damp issues due to the absence of damp proofing courses. The city of Bristol has many historical buildings and older properties that are susceptible to rising damp. As trusted specialists for rising damp Bristol and the South West, we are regularly called upon to undertake many rising damp surveys in the city around autumn and winter time.

Don’t fall victim to rising damp this autumn, it’s very important to book a professional survey if you see any telltale signs. To help you remain on guard for rising damp, let’s take a look at the condition in detail:

What is rising damp?

Rising damp occurs when excess ground moisture and water is sucked up and absorbed through the stones and/or bricks in a wall. There are hundreds of tiny micro-holes in stone and brick known as capillaries. It is through these capillaries that water is sucked up, often leaving a dark stain on the wallpaper.

What are the signs of rising damp?

If you are reading this post then you’ve probably seen some signs of what you think is rising damp and are searching for rising damp services. As an experienced damp proofing company for Bristol we are experts in quickly identifying rising damp so that a solution can be implemented before any further damp related damage can occur. Signs of rising damp include:

• Dark tide marks above your skirting board
• White salty deposits on plasterwork (this is residual salt carried from the earth by water)
• Damp or rotting skirting boards
• Warped, peeling or spoilt wallpaper
• Mould

What are the consequences of rising damp?

If rising damp is not treated, it will continue to spoil your decorations such as wallpaper and skirting. Not only does this have a negative visual impact on the presentability of your home, but there are some more serious consequences:

Mould – The mould created by moist wallpaper can be very harmful to your health especially when there is little ventilation in a room affected by rising damp. Certain moulds release spores that can cause allergic reactions and exacerbate asthma and other respiratory diseases

Wet rot – If wooden skirting and floorboards near and affected wall remain damp then they will eventually rot and become loose. If this problem persists you could find yourself with a hefty carpenter’s bill. More importantly, if rotting masonry and woodwork becomes too lose it could be very unsafe.  

Wasted energy – A wall which is constantly damp and cold is a huge conductor of energy and heat which will have a huge impact on your central heating bills.

How do we treat rising damp?

Most companies offering surveys for rising damp will recommend a number of options including physical and chemical damp proofing courses. At Biocraft Southwest, we recommend the following steps:

• Book a survey with us
• We will inspect your property and confirm if there is a problem
• We will isolate the source of the damp
• We will Install a specialist chemical damp proof course at the base of the wall
• We will replace any damp affected plaster with special cement-based render which will hold back any migrating dampness

Rising damp

If you suspect signs of rising damp in your home don’t let it wait! We are regionally renowned for providing treatment for rising damp throughout the Southwest.

Click here to book your survey today