What Causes Rising Damp

Rising Damp Is Common In Period Properties
Rising damp is a problem frequently encountered in older houses. This is the case for several reasons. Depending on the era in which your home was constructed, it may not have been fitted with any damp proof course at all. Although Victorian and Edwardian homes were usually fitted with damp proofing at the time they were built, so many years have passed since then that the original damp proof course has probably deteriorated, permitting moisture to enter at the base of the walls.

Quite frequently, too, older properties have been modified or extended, and these structural add-ons may not have been adequately damp proofed. When in direct contact with the original building, damp extensions can bypass its damp proof course and introduce a damp problem by indirect means. It’s also likely that the terrain surrounding your Victorian or Edwardian property isn’t the same as it was when your home was newly built: if the ground was subsequently raised above the level of the original damp proof course, this too can cause damp to breach the structure.

Rising Damp is the Sign of an Ineffective Damp Proof Course
Even if the damp proof course in your home is perfectly intact, it can still be overwhelmed. We often see this in homes in Stockport Cheshire, where extreme weather conditions have become more common during winter. Flooding, the combination of heavy rains with poor drainage and an unusually high level of groundwater can all lead to rising damp.

Rising Damp Can Have Serious Consequences
This kind of damp is potentially serious: it can weaken the structural capability of your home and lead to widespread timber infestation. Moulds and other fungi thrive in moist environments, and these can have a negative effect on your health.

Damp problems can be complex and are tricky to diagnose correctly, so if you suspect rising damp you definitely need expert help.

At Stockport Damp Proofing we have specialist knowledge of heritage and period homes. We’re accustomed to adapting our solutions in order to preserve as many of the original finishes, features and fittings as possible. We will never recommend a course of treatment incompatible with the conservation of your home.

If you’ve noticed any of the characteristic signs of rising damp [Insert link to ‘recognising rising damp’], book your free damp survey now book an inspection. Alternatively, call us direct  to discuss timber infestation, specialist plastering and basement tanking.

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