19 Sep Resolving Rising Damp On Walls
Rising damp in buildings occurs when water from the ground rises up through the stone, block or brick wall and sometimes through the concrete floor slab by a process termed as capillarity. In simpler words, water rises up the walls of a building in the same way oil rises up through a wick of a lamp.
Rising damp witnessed on a wall
As seen in the pictures above, rising damp causes efflorescence (i.e white powdery deposit on the surface of the wall), peeling of paint, destruction of wall finishes, mold growth and musty smell in the rooms with damp walls.
Rising damp is caused by poor construction methods, use of porous materials and destruction (or lack of) the damp proof course (commonly referred to as DPC)
The DPC is an impervious membrane, usually made of bitumen, that is placed between the wall and the floor slab to prevent dampness from the foundation wall from climbing up to the building wall by capillarity. The DPC is placed during construction of the structure.
So, how do you deal with rising damp? Damp walls can be made dry by treating them with PENETRON CAPILLARY CONCRETE WATERPROOFING SYSTEM. The common materials that use this system to treat a wall with rising damp are PENETRON SLURRY, PENETRON ADMIX and PENECRETE MORTAR.
It is important to consult a qualified waterproofing contractor when dealing with rising damp. This will ensure that the right materials are used and that the issue is resolved permanently.
Do you have any questions or comments regarding leakages, water damage or waterproofing in your house or building? Get in touch