Rising damp - who do I call?

cyclonebri1

What I find amazing is that there is a strong movement to suggest that rising damp doesn't even exist?

I'm not committed to this view either way, just find it strange that at this stage of the game, ie, we've been out of the caves for some time, it isn't certain.

The one thing I'd say is that it's much rarer than other forms of damp, condensation being the least understood.

Do the polythene patch test to determine is the moisture is coming from within the wall or from the atmosphere.


Edited to add,

Penetrating damp due to blocked cavities or poor mortar joints, dependent on wall construction is much more likely than rising damp, and no amount of low level chemical treatment will cure this is the problem lies above dpc level.

Leif

At the risk of stating the obvious, go outside during a downpour, and look at the outside area of the problem wall. I found huge amounts of water cascading over the sides of the guttering, and onto the exterior wall. My neighbour found water in his garage. A quick look at the exterior wall showed obvious drips marks down the side, where water was leaking through holes in the roofing material. Clearly this might not be the issue, but it takes minutes to do.

cyclonebri1

My daughter had a new build a few years back, faulty flashing to the valleys meant water was running down the cavity so yes it needs inspecting when both wet and dry.

Strange how we found that but the building wallies couldn't, oh wait a minute, it was raining, they were huddled up drinking the tea cabin dry :o:o;)