Do i know damp?

[mrlennie]

Hi i have been a plumber for two years but i was hoping to continue on into different trades. I bought a book called "dampness in buildings" by T.A oxley off Ebay and was wondering if anyone had read it or if i described some of the methods would you agree?

1. Use of a "Protimeter" or some moisture reader.

2. If you can read nitrates in the wall you can diagnose as rising damp.

3. The book says rising damp exists as oppose to some people saying it doesn't.

I'd say it was a pretty good book and I have learned quite abit but i want to know is it the best to learn from?

Thanks, Rob.

 

[Nige F]

I`ve been a plumber since 1970 - started my apprenticeship then - am sitting here retired now and one thing I KNOW from these forums is --- Rising Damp DOES NOT exist

 

[Alastairreid]

I`ve been a plumber since 1970 - started my apprenticeship then - am sitting here retired now and one thing I KNOW from these forums is --- Rising Damp DOES NOT exist

Oh no here we go again

 

[ajrobb]

If you can read nitrates in the wall you can diagnose as rising damp.

That is interesting. Where else can nitrates come from if not from ground water? While Heritage House believe that rising damp does not exist, their tests have only been with plain water. I have suggested they add salts to their test tanks. With salts, there is a chance of osmosis. With just plain water, I suspect you only get capillary attraction. Generally, they talk a lot of sense and I can believe them that a lot of damp is commonly misdiagnosed.

 

[mrlennie]

If rising damp does not exist then why when they inject the chemical damp proof course does it seem to fix the problem?

 

[mrlennie]

If you can read nitrates in the wall you can diagnose as rising damp.

That is interesting. Where else can nitrates come from if not from ground water? While Heritage House believe that rising damp does not exist, their tests have only been with plain water. I have suggested they add salts to their test tanks. With salts, there is a chance of osmosis. With just plain water, I suspect you only get capillary attraction. Generally, they talk a lot of sense and I can believe them that a lot of damp is commonly misdiagnosed.

Yes that is also what I can't understand...

 

[ajrobb]

If rising damp does not exist then why when they inject the chemical damp proof course does it seem to fix the problem?

If you go to the Heritage House link I gave earlier, they have pictures of damp bricks ABOVE a chemical damp course and dry bricks below!

 

[Alastairreid]

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=342260&highlight=#342260

 

[mrlennie]

Thanks for the links!