At Revicasa we care about the satisfaction and safety of our clients. As home inspection professionals, we offer objective, data-driven recommendations. In this article we explain in detail what causes rising damp and the measures you can take to keep it from affecting your home.
What is rising damp?
Rising damp occurs when groundwater travels upward through the porous materials found in a home’s foundations and walls. These elements soak up water like a sponge, and the damp can climb more than a metre up the walls. As it rises, the water carries salts from the subsoil that cling to the walls, producing the typical damp stains.
Main causes
Wet ground
Soil with a high moisture content due to nearby underground water, a very high water table or poor drainage.
Porous materials
The presence of porous building materials (bricks, natural stone, old mortars) that allow water to rise by capillary action.
Recommended moisture levels
Knowing the optimal moisture levels is essential to ensure comfort and health. The recommended limit in a home is 16 %: if it is exceeded, we are dealing with an active damp problem. In our inspections we have recorded readings as high as 32.5 %.
This type of damp tends to show up at the base of load-bearing or exterior walls in the form of bulging paint, flaking, or the plaster layer coming away.
Important precautions
- Waterproof barrier: install a waterproof barrier when laying the foundations during construction to prevent water from rising.
- Proper drainage: ensure a good drainage system around the home that channels water away from absorbent elements.
- Ventilation: keep basements and underground spaces well ventilated to reduce the build-up of moisture.
How to fix rising damp?
- Waterproof barrier treatment: apply chemical products or waterproofing membranes to walls and slabs to stop water from rising.
- Special coatings: use coatings that block moisture and prevent it from returning, only advisable after installing the barrier and removing the presence of water.
- Controlled drainage: install systems that capture and divert water away from foundations and walls. Quickly draining the water away is always the first measure.
Conclusion
Rising damp is a common problem in the homes we inspect, but it can be brought under control with the right precautions and solutions. If the damp persists, contact a Revicasa inspector to diagnose and certify the problem and to propose a specific solution as soon as possible.
