Rising Damp?

Rising damp buildings may be defined as the upwards flow of moisture through a permeable wall structure, the moisture being derived from groundwater.  This moisture rises through the pores (capillaries) in the masonry by a process loosely termed as “capillarity” which cause the masonry to act like a wick.

Rising damp varies in severity depending on of several factors including the level of groundwater, the pore structure of the masonry materials (brick, bluestone, sandstone, mortar etc…) and the rate of evaporation away from the wall surface. It requires treatment because it has a number of undesirable effects on the structure of the building. Like cancer in humans the longer it is ignored the more severe the consequence.

Rising Damp or Rising Salt Damp?

These two headings are often the cause of confusion. Rising Damp becomes Rising Salt Damp when salts are present in the soil and are drawn up with the moisture. In Australia Rising Salt Damp is particularly prevalent in South Australia where it is referred to as Salt Damp due to the high salinity in the soil. On the Eastern seaboard and in the West where the soil contains less salt it is more commonly referred to as Rising Damp.

How do you know if you have Rising Damp?

1. Decorative Spoiling – Rising Damp and the accompanying salts can cause plaster ro deteriorate and paint to blister.
   
   
2. Erosion of the Building Fabric – Ground salts introduced into the wall by rising damp can attack and dissolve the binders in brick, stone, and mortar causing them to lose their strength and structural integrity. Crystalising salts can exert such forces that the mortar, brick, stone microstructure is destroyed.
   
   
3. Increased Heat Loss – Dampness in porous building materials causes a reduction of insulation properties as air in the pores is replaced by more conductive water. The thermal conductivity of a wet brick has been found to be approximately twice that of a dry brick. Not only does this increase the risk of condensation but increases winter heating costs.
   
   
4. Health Effects - It has been widely documented that excessive dampness in buildings can have negative effects on the health of it’s occupants.

If any of these symptoms are in evidence then there is the risk of rising damp being present. However a process of elimination is required as other cause of dampness in buildings need to be eliminated as they require other remedial treatments.

1. Lateral Damp. This is where there is soil, dirt, or a garden bed, etc. which is higher than the inside of the wall where dampness is evident and is entering the masonry laterally. A cellar situation or walls built into the side of a hill are obvious cases where lateral damp would be the cause. Read More

2. Condensation.  A common cause of dampness which can be identified even without a moisture meter if it is evident high up the wall especially over a metre high. Rising Damp normally does not rise above a metre in height. Read More

3. Mould. Mould growth is associated with condensation and is grows as a result of long term untreated condensation. Read More

4. Falling Damp. Again, if the dampness is more evident higher up the wall, wait for a rainy day, the heavier the better, go outside and check the gutters and downpipes for evidence of overflow into the top of the wall. Read More

5. Leaking Pipes and Shower units. If the only walls to have evidence of damp are on the perimeter of a “wet” area such as a bathroom, laundry or kitchen then diagnosis by a plumber pressure testing pipes and checking shower units could eliminate the possibility of rising damp. Read More

N.B. Always consider the above as possibilities if the house is less than 40 years old.

Having identified the cause of moisture is rising damp then it needs to be treated by introducing a new damp proof course. Sanding back damaged walls and/or plaster and repainting, covering the wall with plasterboard and any other band aid remedy will prove to be both a waste of time and money as the problem would not have been resolved.  There is some urgency introducing a new damp proof course at this stage as rising damp in masonry is like cancer  in humans, the longer you leave it untreated the more serious the condition especially if salts are present as evidenced by white powder on the surface. The reason the salts cause so much damage is that they are continually moving. On dry days with low moisture in the air they contract then on wet days or days of high humidity they expand so they are continually expanding, contracting, expanding, contracting until the masonry starts to crumble and mortar turns to dust.

How long does this take? Who knows as there are many variables, it could be years or tens of years but it will happen unless treated.