Rising damp can affect the structural integrity of your home and it is important to understand why this happens and how it can be prevented. We will go through some of the common reasons for this in the article below.
One of the main reasons
For rising damp is the damp-proof course in the construction of your home has deteriorated. Sometimes it will be absent entirely. This is a barrier that is installed in walls near the ground level of the house to prevent moisture rising. With time, the damp-proof course can degrade. Other reasons for deterioration are poor installation and exposure to harsh weather. When the damp-proof course is deteriorated, water can permeate the walls. It will rise up due to capillary action. You can look for companies that offer rising damp treatment Perth if you are facing this issue. Sometimes soil debris can accumulate on the damp-proof course and form a bridge over it which will affect the effectiveness of this barrier. This debris can be made up of mud, leaves and other organic matter that will settle against the exterior walls of your home. And due to this bridging effect, moisture will bypass the barrier and cause rising damp. This is why it is so important to inspect the exterior of your home regularly and carry out maintenance tasks.
The potential for rising damp can also be affected by landscaping around your home.
If you have garden beds against the exterior walls of the house without sufficient drainage, this can be a big issue. It will contribute to rising damp. Sometimes there can be excess water as a result of garden irrigation. There are also instances where rainfall will drain towards the house. Because of these reasons, the soil will become saturated and moisture will be able to breach the damp-proof course. To prevent this from happening, you need to have proper grading, well-planned landscape design and drainage systems. If you have concrete paths or driveways that directly abut the exterior walls, it can contribute to rising damp. As concrete is porous, it will absorb water and when it is in direct contact with the walls, this moisturewill be transferred to the structure of the house. With time, this will affect the integrity of the damp-proof course and moisture will start moving up. Therefore, a gap between the concrete and the walls has to be maintained and you need to have proper drainage channels.
If you live in an area where the ground water levels are high,
The soil will become saturated and this will increase the risk of moisture rising through the walls. If your house is located in an area that is prone to seasonal flooding or in an area with a naturally high water table, you will need to have effective drainage systems and ensure the proper is elevated properly. If there are internal plumbing issues such as leaking pipes, it can affect rising damp as there is a direct source of moisture. You need to inspect the plumbing systems regularly to prevent this from happening.
