We have just bought an old cottage and it has "Rising Damp".
From reading up, it would appear that rising damp may or may not exist. My feeling is that the injectable DPC solution only masks the effects and does not deal with the cause?
Our own feeling is that the damp issues are caused by the choked rainwater drains at the front and a concrete slab that runs against the front walls. This was it after I tried to scoop it out. Both the pipes in either direction are choked solid.
Slab means that surface water has nowehere to go other than up against the wall of the house.
There is a common drain that runs along the front of all the cottages and exits under the road onto the beach.
The inside and outside of the house are VERY close in terms of floor levels.
We reckon, if we take up the concrete slab, clear the drains and fit perforated drainage pipes then backfill with geotextile and pebbles (prob from the beach) we will make a HUGE difference in the levels of water in this area and probably NOT have to go down the route if injectable DPC.
The walls are broken rubble construction and i an dubious that any chemical DPC would make a uniform seal across it.
Inside, the joists rest on wooden sleepers laid onto bolsters of rubble on the solum. We plan on lifting the whole floor, putting down new sleepers with a damp proof memberane underneath then fitting new joists.
Will also try and improve the ventilation as well (think at present it is choked solid with fallen plaster from the damp walls.
Curious as to how you would approach this?
From reading up, it would appear that rising damp may or may not exist. My feeling is that the injectable DPC solution only masks the effects and does not deal with the cause?
Our own feeling is that the damp issues are caused by the choked rainwater drains at the front and a concrete slab that runs against the front walls. This was it after I tried to scoop it out. Both the pipes in either direction are choked solid.
Slab means that surface water has nowehere to go other than up against the wall of the house.
There is a common drain that runs along the front of all the cottages and exits under the road onto the beach.
The inside and outside of the house are VERY close in terms of floor levels.
We reckon, if we take up the concrete slab, clear the drains and fit perforated drainage pipes then backfill with geotextile and pebbles (prob from the beach) we will make a HUGE difference in the levels of water in this area and probably NOT have to go down the route if injectable DPC.
The walls are broken rubble construction and i an dubious that any chemical DPC would make a uniform seal across it.
Inside, the joists rest on wooden sleepers laid onto bolsters of rubble on the solum. We plan on lifting the whole floor, putting down new sleepers with a damp proof memberane underneath then fitting new joists.
Will also try and improve the ventilation as well (think at present it is choked solid with fallen plaster from the damp walls.
Curious as to how you would approach this?
