In some instances, a DPC (damp-proof course) is not sufficient. A DPC is a barrier that is designed to stop rising damp. Walls such as stone walls, porous brickwork, or rubble-filled wall, may need another system.
An Innovative Damp Control Method
An innovative system that is used to treat rising damp conveys a small and perfectly safe current of electricity into the affected wall just above ground level. This is done by inserting titanium anodes into the masonry. The idea is to repel the moisture molecules so they are directed toward the ground.
As long as the small positive electrical charge is sustained, the wall remains protected, dry, and completely free of damp. As a result, this chemical-free solution is the ideal solution for Buxton damp and dry rot control for many structures in the UK.
Rising damp happens in older buildings when groundwater rises up through masonry or walls by a capillary action. The water circulates in narrow spaces, opposing gravity. Because mortar and bricks are often extremely porous, they can contain a number of fine capillaries.
Rising Damp Clues
Rising damp reveals itself in one of various ways. You may have a problem if the following events are occurring:
- You smell a musty or damp odour in your home.
- The temperature is lower at the bottom portion of your wall.
- The timber flooring in your home is rotting.
- You notice blistered or crumbling plaster as the result of salt crystallisation.
Often, walls that have been affected by rising damp are contaminated with salts. Therefore, you cannot simply replaster the wall. You will still have a problem with rising damp.