How is Rising Damp Treated?

ShadyCharacter

Hi all,

I'm buying a 2-bedroom end-of-terrace house, built around the 1900s I believe, that has evidence of rising damp (according to the surveyor). Does anybody know what is entailed in the treatment of rising damp? Is it very invasive to the walls?

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but I know almost nothing about asbestos & where in a residential house it could be; like whether it's even possible for it to be in the walls of a house. But I'm worried that it could be in the walls, & that a damp treatment surveyor would insist I remove it before they treat the damp, which would be very unaffordable for me.

So... My 2 questions to any of you good folk out there who know the ins & outs about damp treatment & asbestos - is it possible for asbestos to be in walls? & is the treatment protocol for rising damp very invasive & likely to disturb asbestos (if it's even there)?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out with this!

flashg67

Internally, asbestos is only usually only found in (old) artex and some ceiling finishes, Outside, it was used in boards for garage/outhouses - often in corrugated sheets. A proper survey will be needed if you suspect. Asbestos is usually only an issue if it's damaged/disturbed and the particles become airborne

Rising damp treatment usually means the removal of plaster to the affected walls. injecting a treatment at low level then replastering.

Are you sure it's rising damp - there's a number of google results that suggest it;s a myht, o at least grossly over exaggerated as a cuse of damp in older houses.

FreeBear

First question - Who is this "surveyor", and is he connected with any damp treatment company ?

Rising damp does exist, but it is not as common as some would have you believe. In may cases where it has been diagnosed, the problem is quite often soil levels around the house that have risen above the damp proof course. Another source of damp is leaking gutters, roofs, and defective drainage. Other sources of trouble in buildings with solid brick walls are "modernisation" with inappropriate materials.. e.g. external cement renders and/or gypsum plaster internally (the pink stuff).

Do the low cost work first such as reducing soil levels, installing french drains, and fixing gutters & drains. Look to see where the damp proof course is (usually a course of engineering bricks or a row of slates) and dig down about 150mm from this point. Allow a month per 25mm of thickness of brickwork to allow the walls to dry properly, and then reevaluate the problem.

If you must go for injected DPC treatments and waterproof plaster, make sure you have an insurance backed guarantee and plan on having the work done again in five years.