Rising Damp Newcastle
Rising Damp Treatment – Newcastle & North East England
Rising damp treatment in Newcastle and throughout the North East with reputable local firm. 30 year guarantees. Rising damp can often be misdiagnosed so we have provided some information regarding what is rising damp, what causes rising damp, signs and symptoms of rising damp, the best treatment for rising damp and how to book a free initial inspection without obligation.
What is Rising Damp?
Rising damp is where moisture enters the home at the ground floor or foundation of a property. Groundwater and occasionally water remaining after heavy rains which haven’t adequately drained away, will “rise” through capillary action, being soaked up into the pores of concrete, brick, and mortar of the property’s external walls and introduce moisture inside your home. Signs of rising damp usually only show up on the bottom of ground floor internal or external walls but can extend up to 1 metre height. Other signs include visible rot and damage to timbers and skirting boards; cracking and bubbling paint, plaster and wallpaper; and white chalky “tide marks” where salt residues have dried on the walls afterwards.
Most homes have some form of a damp proof course (DPC). This chemical or physical barrier runs horizontally along the “course” of the property above the ground level to stop damp from entering your home through capillary action. Damage or worn DPCs may fail to effectively seal and protect your home from rising damp and may need replacing.
What Causes Rising Damp?
Rising damp is caused by water being pulled up through the ground and up a wall, through the fine pores of the masonry and brickwork. Similar to a sponge, your exterior walls can soak up groundwater because it sits below the surrounding ground or it lacks proper drainage. As with penetrating damp, dealing with faults or damaged structural causes will need to be factored in order to provide the most effective treatment and remedial solution.
Rising damp often occurs because a damp proof course has failed (or there simply isn’t one in a property). Typically, a plastic strip, bitumen or slate in older houses forms the damp proof barrier known as a damp proof course (or physical DPC). Essentially, the damp proof course stops water rising up the walls beyond a certain level (as it will naturally do). If the barrier is broken, the water continues to rise – hence the term rising damp.
When treating rising damp, the most obvious damp proofing solution is to insert a new damp proof course. These days, an injectable chemical DPC is most commonly used. Here, waterproofing chemicals are injected into holes drilled into the wall in a horizontal line, forming a waterproof barrier.
The ground level of a property needs to be at least 15cm below the line of a damp proof course. If this is not the case, applying a liquid membrane below DPC level or soil excavation may be required.
Following the insertion of a new DPC, a damp proof membrane is often installed to the interior wall. This is a stud a plastic sheet that forms an additional waterproof barrier for the inner wall.
What are the Most Common Signs of Rising Damp?
People are often unaware of rising damp until visual signs are observed such as water staining or tide mark above skirting board level. If left untreated, rising damp will continue to worsen causing damage to paintwork, surface plaster and potentially structural damage to brickwork and any adjoining timbers which could result in wet rot or other kinds of fungal decay.
Research and experience tell us there are two major fears people have around any kind of damp. First is potential health concerns, and second is the financial cost to treat rising damp as this is the most common type of damp after condensation.
The Most Effective Rising Damp Treatment in Newcastle
The universal method to treat rising damp is referred to as “damp-proofing” or occasionally “damp coursing.”
If you are unfamiliar with what is entailed in brief, damp proofing treatment simply involves the following:
- Removing the damp plaster off the wall, drilling a line of holes along the affected area at the base level, and injecting what is called DPC cream into the wall.
- Apply an additional barrier such as stud membrane or sand and cement render
- Replastering Refit new skirting boards and redecorating (see more information below)
Costs for Rising Damp Treatment in Newcastle
Black mould growth is the most common effect of condensation, and ventilation is the best cure for condensation. There are many ways to solve condensation problems you can treat without an expert. The treatment of condensation that will work best for you depends on your problems and the extent of the damage.
If you have concerns that your damp issues might be connected to rising damp, please visit our rising damp treatment page which provides information regarding what is rising damp, what causes rising damp, signs and symptoms of rising damp, the best treatment for rising damp and how to book a free initial inspection without obligation.
The biggest cost when it comes to treating rising damp is having to have the work carried out more than once which is why we recommend that you check to see if there are any existing guarantees for work previously carried out.
Now one might ask if the work is done properly to begin with, why would it need to be repeated? There are several reasons for this which could include: the type of damp was misdiagnosed in the first place; therefore, the treatment carried out was incorrect or work was not carried out to the exact specifications either due to lack of knowledge, inexperience or laziness to save time with labour or reduce costs with low quality materials.
When treating rising damp, it is so important to use a reputable experienced local damp proofing company. In addition to the main remedial works, there are many associated costs in addition to the damp proofing works: redecorating, removal and replacement of radiators, skirting boards, flooring etc.
While it is not easy to be exact, rising damp treatment costs in Newcastle and the North East can vary significantly depending on the extent of the problem, the size of the property, the method of damp treatment used, and whether you use a local builder/handyman or an experienced damp proofing company like ourselves who provide 30 year transferrable guarantees. Most damp proofing companies will have a minimum job charge ranging between £400 and £600 with up to £1000 for some of the larger national companies with extensive business overheads. When choosing your preferred damp proofing company you can ask them their minimum job cost as well as a cost per metre.
Following the free initial inspection, we will provide a damp proofing inspection report will include; written estimate, full outline of all damp proofing and other related remedial works required including plaster removal, chemical damp proof course injection (DPC), stud membrane physical barrier, replastering and waste disposal.
We are happy to discuss potential ways to reduce the cost of work during the free initial inspection which could include; clients removing surface plaster prior to commencement of works, clients being responsible for their own waste removal or even doing their own plastering as many of our landlords or builder clients prefer when carrying out full property renovations.
Some additional costs that homeowners would be required to pay include the following:
Radiators: If the walls to be treated have radiators, these will need to be removed and refitted following completion of works. This job can be done by yourself, or you may wish to use a plumber, particularly when refitting as a boiler will need to be repressurised.
Skirting Boards: When your skirting board is damaged or rotten, you might need to replace it or repair it. This also incurs additional costs. Skirting boards cost around £2 to £3 per metre and you can choose from timber or MDF. Labour costs will vary. For the majority of properties, work doesn’t have to be carried out by a professional carpenter or joiner. In many cases, a local a handyman/handyperson would be able to carry out this work.
As stated in our guarantee skirting boards will need to be refixed using wood adhesive such as Sticks Like or product of similar quality as using screws or nails could jeopardise the damp proofing treatment.
Redecoration: The application of stud membranes is by far the most effective physical barrier for rising damp treatment over the lower cost sand and cement render treatment which is still used by some damp proofing companies. Because we use stud membranes this means walls can dry out naturally so painting and wallpapering can usually take place in between one and two weeks.
External Ground-level above DPC: If external ground levels are above the DPC level, this can compromise an existing or a newly installed DPC; causing bridging where water can be wicked from the soil directly into the walls, causing rising damp. Ultimately the key is to lower ground levels to the recommended height of 150mm below DPC level. In many instances, this can only be done by digging out the land and covering it over with either concrete slabs, gravel or installing a French drain (also known as field drain or channel drain).
How to Book an Inspection for Rising Damp Treatment in Newcastle?
Many Damp proofing companies offering rising damp treatment in Newcastle will offer potential clients a free visual inspection, and others may charge a nominal fee £50.00 to £150.00 for a visual report and non-destructive testing. If a fee is paid this is typically deducted from the cost or any remedial works if the client proceeds. If you are purchasing a property the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Surveyor acting on behalf of the bank, building society or mortgage lender may request a Damp and Timber Report to be carried out. Usually, an estate agent will have a good relationship with a North East damp and timber specialist like ourselves who can provide this.
Book Free Inspection Without Obligation
Professional advice from local North East Damp & Timber specialists for the most appropriate remedial solutions for all damp and timber treatments.
