Rising Damp
Rising Damp also known as “salt damp” can be a very common issue in older homes. This is a issue where the moisture from within the soil under the house is absorbed up by the foundations and in turn the moisture enters the lower walls. When the moisture evaporates a salty residue remains, hence the common name “Salt Damp”.
If rising damp is left untreated it can potentially become quite a costly repair. Serious structural deterioration can occur such as :
- Brick and Mortar Decay
- Plaster decay
- Stone Decay
The above picture is a older where the salt damp has been scrapped backed, patched and then painted however we did find it and could prove the issue has not yet been fixed. The above picture to the right shows a moisture meter. This tool transmits electrodes between two plates on the rear of the unit to pick up moisture. The results are displayed on a analogue needle on the face of the unit. As you can see the moisture readings were very high.
How do i fix salt damp?
There are numerous ways experts can fix salt damp, the most common i have seen is where holes are drilled out at the base of the wall and then a silicone like compound is injected into the wall creating a water proof membrane. Ideally the moisture should not penetrate this membrane and the issue should cease.
Plaster can then be scraped back and fresh plaster can be applied once the wall has dried out.
If you are not sure and would like peace of mind call today 0408817898