Why London Homes Are Under Threat From Rising Damp

Rising damp is a very destructive thing for buildings in London and indeed all over the UK. London. In particular, London has a water retention problem due to the large clay base called the Thames Valley Basin and in this short article, we take an in-depth look at why rising damp is enemy number one for London homeowners.

Ground Moisture

Low-lying areas of London have a real problem with rising damp, which is moisture coming up from the ground; houses typically have a damp proof course installed between the first few brickwork courses; older homes have a bitumen-based strip that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture from climbing a building. If the DPC is damaged in any way, this allows moisture to cross that barrier and unless addressed, rising damp will continue to attack a building.

Defective DPC

The damp proof course is the only line of defence against rising damp and in older properties, the DPC can easily be damaged by ground subsidence. Another situation that can render DPC useless is building above the DPC line; some homeowners add a retaining wall, not realising that they are creating a bridge for damp to pass the moisture barrier. We sometimes encounter this and once the bridge is removed, the DPC barrier is again effective.

Chemical DPC

If an old London property has damaged DPC, it is often the best solution to inject a chemical foam that creates a new barrier, rather than trying to repair the existing DPC. Homes with cavity walls are best suited for chemical DPC injection, which not only prevents rising damp, but also brings thermal insulation.

Independent Damp Survey

At London Damp Specialists, we specialise in carrying out independent damp surveys for London homeowners; if rising damp is present in your home, we will find it and we have a close working relationship with one of the top damp-proofing companies in London, an organisation that guarantees their damp-proofing work for a full 30 years.

Above Average Rainfall

This is a major reason why more London properties are under threat of rising damp; we always seem to get the rough end of the stick when it comes to weather and bouts of heavy rain leave the ground with a high level of moisture retention. When ground has very poor drainage, this is a cause of rising damp and if a building has a defective DPC installed, moisture will rise up the structure and the result is a lot of damage. Add to that a lack of sunshine and many London buildings are in real danger of being attacked by ground moisture rising up walls.

If you suspect that rising damp is present in your home, call London Damp Specialists on 020 7205 4886 and book an independent damp survey to get a definitive answer to whether or not rising damp affects your home.