Rising Damp

Rising damp in buildings may be defined as the vertical flow of water up through a permeable wall structure or floor, the water being derived from ground water. The water rises through the pores (capillaries) in the masonry or concrete by a process loosely termed "capilliarity." In other words the masonry acts like a wick.

The treatment method will depend on whether the rising damp is affecting a solid floor, or is rising up a wall (as shown on the photograph).

Treatment of Rising Damp in solid floors:

This happens most regularly where developers have failed to fit dpc sheeting beneath the slab or when an existing dpc has failed. Several new products are now available to stop Damp rising through floor slabs, notably ECS Epoxy Floor Coating and Dry Base Vapour Membrane. Where the floor slab is contaminated (e.g. oil stains or bitumen) or hydrostatic water pressure is excessive it may be necessary to lay CDM Industrial Membrane over the slab after which a new screed or wooden flooring can be fitted over the membrane.

Treatment of Rising Damp in walls:

Dryzone damp-proofing cream, or Microsilan DPC fluid is injected into the wall at floor level to provide an impermeable barrier, preventing the damp rising up the wall. Affected plaster is removed and replaced with a plaster applied to the specification given in our Renderguard Gold datasheet.

Full details are given in the Safeguard Publication, "Rising Damp and its Control."

Equipment and spares for injection are held by Safeguard (Injection Spares) and full details can be obtained from our offices.

Further details about Dryzone damp-proofing cream can be found at www.safeguardeurope.com/products/dryzone.php

An example of rising dampTreatment of Rising Damp using Dryzone damp-proofing cream.