Rising damp on exterior walls
What is rising damp?
Rising damp is groundwater that travels upwards from the moist soil into your walls. That’s why the problem usually appears first at the bottom of the ground floor walls. Older houses are particularly vulnerable, as waterproof membranes weren’t commonly used in the past, and the foundations often lacked proper moisture protection. However, rising damp can also be a problem in more recent houses. Wall bricks are naturally porous, and as they age, they absorb even more moisture. This creates a sponge-like effect, drawing water up into the wall. This allows groundwater to rise as high as 1.2 metres into the masonry.
The result? Damage to your brickwork, plaster, wallpaper and more. Signs of rising damp include peeling wallpaper, damp paint, and loose skirting boards.
How to effectively treat rising damp
Water-repellent paint, a waterproof membrane or wall injections
If the problem is still relatively limited, applying a coat of water-repellent paint to the façade may offer relief. One coat of Rain Protect Splash Guard prevents rainwater from penetrating the wall from the outside and protects the lower part of the wall.
Has the problem already spread extensively throughout the building? Then installing a waterproof membrane or injecting the walls is a better solution. When damp proofing, the second row of bricks is removed and a waterproof membrane is placed on top of the first row. DPC Waterproof Membrane can be used for this purpose. Note: This method is only suitable for stable walls and involves significant structural work.
A less invasive solution is wall injection. This involves drilling holes into the wall every 10 to 15 cm and injecting the damp-proofing agent Wall Protect Inject Liquid either from the inside or outside. The product spreads through the wall and forms an impermeable barrier against rising damp. This solution requires no cutting or chiselling, and the process is relatively quick.
