Rising Damp Treatment in Thanet and Canterbury

Rising damp occurs when groundwater travels upwards through porous bricks, mortar or stone.

A functioning damp-proof course is designed to limit this movement. Problems may develop where the original damp-proof course has failed, been bridged or was never installed.

Damp Property Protection investigates and treats suspected rising damp throughout Thanet and Canterbury.

How We Investigate Rising Damp

We examine the pattern of moisture, the property’s construction and any existing damp-proof course.

External ground levels, internal floors, plumbing and ventilation may also be checked.

Moisture meters can assist an investigation, but readings need to be interpreted alongside visible evidence and the materials present in the wall.

Signs Commonly Associated with Rising Damp

Possible symptoms include:

Damp patches at the bottom of walls

Tide marks

Salt deposits

Peeling paint

Damaged skirting boards

Crumbling plaster

Wallpaper lifting

A musty smell

Rising damp normally affects the lower section of a wall rather than appearing at ceiling height.

However, similar symptoms can be caused by leaks, condensation, high ground levels or penetrating damp. Correct diagnosis is essential.

Rising Damp Treatment

Where rising damp is confirmed, a remedial damp-proof course may be installed.

This often involves introducing a specialist cream or fluid into the mortar bed to create a new moisture-resistant barrier.

Salt-contaminated plaster may also need to be removed and replaced with a suitable specification. This is because salts can continue attracting moisture even after the source has been treated.

Drying times vary according to wall thickness, construction and environmental conditions.

Request a Rising Damp Survey

Do not assume that every low-level damp patch is rising damp.

Contact Damp Property Protection for a professional assessment in Thanet, Canterbury or the surrounding areas.