How to Stop Rising Damp

A new damp proof course is the most effective way to stop rising damp. A damp proof course may be a chemically injected damp course or a physical damp proof course which is inserted into the wall.

The purpose of the damp proof course is to form a barrier between the walls in your home and the soil below the house. The ground will always contain water and therefore the walls and floors in contact with the ground will draw this moisture through the bricks by the process of capillary action.

Chemical Course

A chemical damp proof course is drilled and injected into the mortar joint at the lower part of the wall and the chemical will line the capillaries within the brick / joints which prevents water rising up through the wall. Where rising damp has already occurred, salts are likely to be present in the bricks and plaster which will prevent the wall from drying out effectively.

To overcome this problem, the plaster on the walls is removed and replastered using a salt retardant waterproof render, This provides a dry surface which will not absorb the moisture and prevents the salts from being a problem.

Damp Proofing

The installation of the new damp proof course and the specialist replastering are best carried out by the damp proofing specialists to ensure effective treatment, as the replastering is an important part of the solution in stopping rising damp. The damp proofing can be installed either as a siliconate liquid which is a well tested and effective solution or using a thixotropic cream which is an easy method especially when treatment is limited to small walls as the use of pumps is not required.