Rising Damp – A Serious Threat to London Properties

Rising Damp – A Serious Threat to London Properties

Our capital city nestles on the banks of the River Thames, a region with an underlying clay layer that prevents natural drainage. Houses that sit on damp ground are at serious risk of rising damp, which is why every building must have a damp proof course installed just above the ground to act as a waterproof barrier that stops moisture in its tracks.

What is a Damp Proof Course?

Known in the building trade as a DPC, this is basically a thin strip of bitumen-based material that sits between lower courses of bricks, which prevents moisture being drawn up the walls and causing significant damage. There must be no gaps in the DPC membrane, otherwise damp can traverse the barrier and capillary action enables moisture to travel up the external walls.

How Can DPC Be Compromised?

London is at least 400 years old and there are many Victorian properties that were built more than a century ago. These buildings have a very basic DPC and over time, it can tear due to ground movement and once the strip is breached, damp can start climbing the external walls. Frost and sub zero temperatures turn DPC membrane brittle and it can crack and split, rendering it useless. Parking a heavy vehicle on the driveway can be enough to cause the ground to move and that can damage the DPC. Even leaning paving slabs against a wall can create a bridge that moisture can traverse, thus bypassing the DPC and rising up the building.

Injectable Chemical Foam

In most cases, injecting a chemical foam into the brickwork is the best long-term solution to prevent rising damp. Holes are drilled about 80 cm from the ground and the foam is injected into the cavities until it reaches the entry level. This sets and provides an impenetrable barrier to stop moisture from passing through. It also adds an extra layer of thermal insulation, which saves energy, as well as reducing the risk of condensation.

Tell-Tale Signs That Rising Damp is Present

Signs include:

• Moss and vegetation growth on external walls, mainly close to the ground level.
• Peeling wallpaper and flaky paint.
• Damp patches on walls that never dry out.
• Mould on skirting board and architrave.
• Musty smell in the house.

Rising damp is often mistaken for penetrating damp and that can lead to ineffective repairs; book a damp survey with us and we will present a written report with remedial work recommendations and an all-inclusive quote.

Why Regular Damp Inspections Make Sense

Rising damp rarely announces its arrival and if a homeowner is not observant, the signs can easily be missed, which can lead to repairs in the thousands of pounds. Many of our customers book an independent damp survey on a yearly basis, which ensures that any damp issues are nipped in the bud.

Free No Obligation Survey

We are happy to carry out a free damp survey with no obligation, plus we offer a free quote on any damp-proofing work we recommend. Our damp-proofing teams are highly experienced, they work quickly and tidily, always making sure to clean up at the end of the day, causing minimum inconvenience to the occupants.

Free Professional Advice

Our PCA-certified damp surveyors are always happy to advise London homeowners regarding all aspects of damp-proofing, while we are also happy to provide an all-inclusive quote and should you decide to move ahead, we can set up a schedule and complete the work according to the agreed timeline. We are not interested in quick fixes, rather we prefer to inform the customer that long-term solutions are actually cheaper in the long run.

Unconditional Guarantee

As a reflection of the high level of workmanship we adhere to, London Damp Proofing issue an unconditional 30-year guarantee on all damp-proofing work. Simply put, if an area we worked on requires additional work during the guarantee term, we will carry it out at no cost to the customer.