Rising / Penetrating Damp Inspection & Treatment

Rising Damp is a well-known problem in older buildings. Moisture rises up the wall by capillary action depositing salts and damaging the wall finishes.

However dampness at the base of a wall may be due to other reasons such as penetrating damp and condensation.  More often than not the cause is due to bridging of an existing damp proof course by high ground levels.

Electronic moisture meters are commonly used to diagnose rising damp, but these often give false readings with certain paint and wall finishes, and fail to differentiate condensation and hygroscopic salts.

If high readings are given with a moisture meter then further investigation should be carried out.  Mortar sampling is the only accurate way of quantifying the absolute moisture content and hygroscopic salt levels in masonry.

EBS Ltd carries out a visual inspection of the problem areas backed up by electronic moisture meters. Mortar sampling will be carried out where necessary, to determine accurately the moisture levels and hygroscopic salt levels in the masonry.  

The solutions to these problems are varied and depend on the individual circumstances.  For instance ground levels may need to be reduced, new lime plaster may be required on the internal walls, dry lining systems may be necessary, or physical damp proof courses may be recommended.  Chemically Injected damp proof courses are not recommended.

EBS Ltdprovides a full consultancy on damp related problems in buildings, from initial diagnosis to drying out of fire/flood damaged buildings using specialist monitoring techniques and equipment.