In this newsletter we will look at rising damp .
Let’s begin by describing rising damp. Rising damp is the effect of water rising from the ground or exterior walls into the property.
A damp-proof course, laid at the time of construction, prevents damp from the ground rising up the walls and damaging your property. Properties which have inadequate or no appropriate damp protection layer may be affected by excess moisture rising from the ground. Similarly older buildings where the damp course may have deteriorated over time may experience rising damp issues.
With the appearance of rising damp you will notice that the walls just above the floors will start to bubble and discolour and a white powder begins to form – this is called efflorescence.
If you prick the bubbles, they are often damp. This is an early warning sign that the building’s damp course is or has failed and time to call in the experts. Unless something pro-active is done, the discolouration and wetness will simply spread both vertically and horizontally in the walls.
Article courtesy of Marina Constas and Karen Bleijs Demystifying Sectional Title
