How Much Does It Cost To Repair Rising Damp?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Your damp proofing cost can vary greatly from

as little as $200 per wall to upwards of $2,000 per wall

. While the size of your wall no doubt plays a part in determining how much you actually pay, it isn’t the biggest influencing factor in the same way that it is with other wall treatments such as rendering.

How much does it cost to fix a damp problem?

Treatment Duration Average cost
Plastic DPC – whole house


1.5 days


£900
Installing damp proof membrane on one wall 2 days £600

Is Rising Damp covered by insurance?

Rising damp can be permanently eradicated from a property, but

it’s not something that’s covered by home insurance

.

How long does it take to fix rising damp?

Rising damp affected walls can take

up to 6 months to dry out for a 150mm thick wall and will even take longer for thicker walls

. The general rule is that it will take one month for each 25mm thickness of wall to dry after the rising damp has been stopped.

Should I buy a house with rising damp?

So, is it worth buying a house with damp? Yes, it is, but you should only do this if the costs of the potential damp treatments are taken off the house purchase price or if the seller agrees to fix the problem before the house sale is completed.

Is rising damp easy to fix?

The most common and effective way to treat rising damp is to

install a remedial damp proof course by injecting a water repellent damp proof cream into the mortar bed joint of affected walls

.

Can you get rising damp on internal walls?


Rising damp can cause superficial damage to an internal wall

, as well as structural damage to timber and masonry. It harbours mould too, which can result in health problems for you and your family.

What causes rising damp in a house?

Rising damp is caused by

the rising of groundwater through capillaries in masonry

. As this has been a well-known problem for some years, buildings these days are built with a DPC . However, rising damp can still occur, especially in older buildings. The cause of this is often a faulty or non-existent DPC .

What are the signs of rising damp?

  • Damp Or Wet Patches Appearing On Walls. …
  • Salts Within The Plaster | One of the Most Frequent Signs of Rising Damp. …
  • Flaky Or Bubbling Plaster. …
  • Rotting Skirting Boards And Flooring. …
  • Damp and Musty Smell. …
  • Rusting Iron And Steel Fasteners. …
  • Crumbling Bricks and Mortar Between Bricks.

How do you treat internal rising damp walls?

Treating Rising Damp on Internal Walls


By using Dryzone Damp-Proofing Cream or Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods, a remedial DPC can be injected directly into the masonry, ensuring a targeted treatment of the problem

.

Will a dehumidifier help with rising damp?

A dehumidifier will extract moisture from the air, a bit like a tumble dryer extracts moisture from clothing. This will help your home dry out much faster.

If you’re damp problem was caused by condensation in the first place, then a dehumidifier will solve the problem without you having to get the landlord involved

.

How do you fix rising damp in an old house?

  1. A chemical DPC injection.
  2. Replacement of rotting joists or internal flooring which has come into contact with damp.
  3. Removing and replacing damaged interior plaster.
  4. Bridged DPC – requiring the removal of bridging materials or soil to enable a minimum of 150mm clearance below the DPC.

Does House Insurance Cover damp?

We’re often asked ‘does house insurance cover damp’. The answer to this question is

most likely to be ‘no

‘. It’s not usual for buildings, content and landlord insurance policies to cover gradual deterioration, which is the category that damp problems generally fall into.

What happens if you leave rising damp?

If left unchecked, rising damp

can cause damage to brick, concrete and wood structures, and cause wet rot and the dreaded dry rot

.

How high does rising damp go?

How high can rising damp go? In practice Rising damp can generally reach the height of

1.0m above the ground level

however for various reasons the damp can go higher. If you are worried about rising damp within your property, it is advised that you contact a specialist as soon as possible.

Is it illegal to sell a house with damp?

Not necessarily – If you can afford repairs then it’s generally a good idea to pay to get the damp treated before putting the house on the market. But if this isn’t the case, or you need a quick sale,

you can still sell your property as it is

.

Can rising damp cause health problems?

Rising damp is a serious problem that affects all the inhabitants of the house and

can even cause respiratory problems, allergies, asthma, pain and even lung diseases

. This happens because the excess humidity leads to the appearance of molds, whose spores are the major cause of respiratory allergic diseases.

Does a mortgage survey check for damp?


A mortgage surveyor will check the property for all the different types of damp

(little hint – we’re going to talk more about the different types of damp very soon. Just direct your eyes down the page!) They will also look for signs of damp which has been caused by plumbing related issues.

Can you paint over rising damp?

Can you paint over damp?

No. Never paint over damp

– it doesn’t address the root cause of bubbling paint or peeling wallpaper, and you’ll need to paint it again very soon. Fix the source of the damp then let the wall fully dry out before painting it.

Will dehumidifier dry out damp walls?


Dehumidifiers can help remove moisture from the air, which indirectly removes it from the walls, too

. To speed up evaporation, remove molding and baseboards to prevent moisture from entering behind them. Store the molding in a dry, safe place to avoid damaging it.

Is rising damp a structural defect?


Extensive rising damp can also lead to structural damage

that can create serious safety hazards if left unchecked – for example, the rotting and sagging of floorboards and staircases.

Is rising damp common?


Rising damp is very common

because the rise of water through these materials is a physical fact. Given damp soil and a porous wall it will happen. However, some soils are so free draining that they do not retain rainwater for any length of time, so rising damp can be less common in some areas.

What does rising damp look like on outside wall?


Bubbling or Flacking Plaster

On Walls

Flaky or bubbling plaster is often a symptom of rising damp. You will most likely find that plaster will be crumbling, or deposits of plaster will be on the floor.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.