Rising Damp - Fact or Fiction?

[Bargain Bucket]

If rising damp isn't a real thing, then why is a DPC needed?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If rising damp isn't a real thing, then why is a DPC needed?

A DPC of some sort is needed, the point being made is that rising damp is often misdiagnosed as rising, when in fact it is due to some other cause. Often experts, are not experts, they are just salesmen looking for a sale.

 

[noseall]

We annexed a small alley betwixt a house and garage once. Garage was a fair bit lower than the house. Customer asked me to plasterboard the house wall and skim. The plasterboards oversailed the house DPC by about 400mm and finished about 50mm up from the floor. Within 4 weeks there was a distinct line of mouldy blistering on the finished plaster below the DPC. The difference was stark. I stripped back and used poly and battens. No dramas now.

 

[Nige F]

Use the search facility to look for Softus ... the damp guru here back in the day

 

[^woody^]

Use the search facility to look for Softus ... the damp guru here back in the day

Didn't he rage quit and delete all his posts?

 

[JohnD]

If rising damp isn't a real thing, then why is a DPC needed?

do you mean a dpc?

or do you mean a useless silicone injection?

 

[^woody^]

Did DPC's exist in the 16th century?

If "yes" they must have been needed. If "no", then they must not have been needed.

 

[JP_]

I'd be surprised if any of those properties could be lived in at river level.

Venice is famous for its damp, decaying houses, unfit for habitation.

 

[George_engineer]

I don't think anyone contests that bricks get wet when sat in wet soil or next to water.

It's the idea that the water can seep 3 or 4ft into the wall. In that case it's way more likely to be penetrating damp or condensation related.

The solution to which is lowering external ground levels, removing materials that trap damp, ventilation and heating. For buried structures, waterproofing. Just writing everything off as rising damp that chemical treatment will fix is just not right.

 

[^woody^]

I'd be surprised if any of those properties could be lived in at river level.

Venice is famous for its damp, decaying houses, unfit for habitation.

The point is .... in that image, where is the rising damp?

The problems with Venice is more related to the actual ground, rising tides and the past construction method using mainly timber for foundation struts.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'd be surprised if any of those properties could be lived in at river level.

Venice is famous for its damp, decaying houses, unfit for habitation.

I went there many times, it was just a weekend jaunt when I was working there. Beautiful place to explore, especially out of season. Built on timber piles, most of the lower floors are unused because of damp.

 

[JP_]

Just writing everything off as rising damp that chemical treatment will fix is just not right.

I'm sure cowboys do this, but not seen anybody here suggest that.

 

[JP_]

The point is .... in that image, where is the rising damp?

Without going into the properties it is not possible to tell. Take some photos and moisture readings from the inside.
Are any of those rooms at water level used for anything other than ventilation?

 

[opps]

I don't think anyone contests that bricks get wet when sat in wet soil or next to water.

It's the idea that the water can seep 3 or 4ft into the wall. In that case it's way more likely to be penetrating damp or condensation related.

The solution to which is lowering external ground levels, removing materials that trap damp, ventilation and heating. For buried structures, waterproofing. Just writing everything off as rising damp that chemical treatment will fix is just not right.

Even if capillary action in bricks is far less than 4ft, the capillary action in plaster may be far higher than the bricks.

Personally, I have never witnessed rising damp that high but that may be because the owners of the houses that I work in deal with the problem before it gets that bad.

 

[^woody^]

Without going into the properties it is not possible to tell. Take some photos and moisture readings from the inside.
Are any of those rooms at water level used for anything other than ventilation?

You don't need to go in. Look at the brick walls!

No stain, no lichen, no salt stain, no tide mark. No damp by the look of it. Why not? Surely a brick wall right next to a water source should have damp rising up it?