Rescue your home from rising damp

Organise an inspection

Rising damp can have a number of causes, and not all causes may be obvious to the naked eye. For this reason, it’s best to engage a professional builder from the outset. For around $300, a builder can carry out a building inspection and provide a report on the property.

That way, you know exactly where the problems lay and can invest money where it is most needed. It might seem like a large outlay for an inspection report, but isn’t it better to know where the issues are rather than ‘guesstimate’ and risk thousands?

Waterproof wet areas

Wet areas like laundries, kitchens and bathrooms can host a number of problems that can lead to rising damp. Make sure these areas are waterproofed and sealed appropriately.

How does your garden grow?

Gardens, retaining walls, land slopes and patios are all great features but you need to assess where the water runs off – and where it goes. If water is running toward your home it could be the cause of your rising damp issue, so you may need to organise a plumber to help drain and direct water away from your property.

In addition, garden beds built too high against brick walls can also cause rising damp – so waterproofing the soil against the brickwork with some cheap plastic sheeting may be enough to stave off future issues.

Windows and cracks

Check window flashings and gaps for signs of leakage. Simply rectifying these issues may help prevent future rising damp.

Masonry treatment

If rising damp is severe, it should not be left untreated. Rising damp not only can create building deterioration, but it can cause mould growth, which can have severe health implications.

If you are concerned about serious rising damp, masonry treatment may be required. This is where a silicone treatment is penetrated into the structure to create a permanent barrier in the wall aimed to inhibit the damp cycle. There are a number of other treatments available depending on your situation and budget.

When it comes to rising damp, the key is to act fast. Rising damp can affect the health of you and your loved ones, as well as the value of your property. So don’t let it get any worse – nip it in the bud today.