What is Rising Damp?
Rising Damp is caused by moisture rising from the ground into the walls of a building. Damp is able to rise up the walls because most construction materials contain tiny pores. These pores ‘suck’ water from the ground, causing moisture to rise up the wall in the same way that oil rises through the wick of a lamp.
Dryzone damp-proofing cream works by preventing moisture rising through these pores.
How high does it rise?
The height to which rising damp will rise up a wall depends on a number of factors including the size of the pores in the wall, the type of wallpaper or paint on the wall, and the degree of dampness in the ground. In most cases, rising damp is unlikely to rise above 1.5 metres. However, in extreme cases (e.g. where the wall has been covered with an impervious membrane) moisture can rise more than 2 metres up the wall.
How do I know if I have Rising Damp?
Dryzone is specifically designed for the treatment of rising damp, so it is important to be certain that this is the cause of dampness before treatment begins. Other types of dampness that affect buildings (e.g. condensation, lateral damp, penetrating damp) are treated in different ways - call your national Dryzone distributor for details.
Diagnosis of dampness in buildings should be carried out by a specialist surveyor, however, typical signs of rising damp include:
- Signs of dampness limited to bottom 1.5m of ground-floor walls
- Damp or decayed skirting boards
- Salt deposits on the wall surface
If you would like to arrange for a specialist surveyor to visit your property, please visit the contact-page to contact your national distributor.
Further information about diagnosing rising damp can be found in our free publication “Rising Damp and its Control” which can be downloaded free of charge from our literature download page.