Walls that have been stripped back to the brick as there was an outbreak of rising damp.

How Rising Damp Affects Your Health and How to Eradicate It

Although rising damp is not known to directly cause fatalities, it can have detrimental effects on those who already suffer from poor health or who are vulnerable. For example, babies, children and elderly people should not live in homes with rising damp as their immune systems are not as strong as others. In addition, people with skin conditions such as eczema or respiratory problems such as allergies and asthma should avoid rising damp at all costs as it will likely worsen their conditions. Damp and mould are known to trigger asthma attacks, which can be fatal. Further, those with weakened immune systems such as people with chronic illnesses or who are on heavy medication such as chemotherapy should also stay away from damp and mould. As well as those who are more vulnerable, rising damp and mould can have an adverse effect on those with a full bill of health. Moulds produce allergens, irritants and toxic substances. If you inhale damp or mould, or touch mould spores or damp then you could have an allergic reaction. Typical reactions include red eyes, itchy skin, skin rash and a runny nose.

Wall that has been freshly plastered after rising damp.

How to Get Rid of Damp

There is a multitude of steps necessary to fully eradicate rising damp. Specialist tools and materials are also required to safeguard against future occurrences, as well as preventative measures against the spread of the damp throughout the property. To properly achieve all of this it is essential to have a professional handle the procedure. The first stage of resolution, after official identification of a rising damp issue, is the insertion of a chemical damp proof course. This is known amongst professionals as DPC. The object of the DPC is to create a water-proof barrier inside the wall that will prevent damp from rising or spreading through the material. This is installed by drilling several holes into the wall and injecting the product using a syringe-like device.

Pink wallpaper that is ruined from rising damp.

Important Things to Know

The source of the water or moisture that has led to your rising damp issue needs to be addressed. Free water in building materials can lead to the ruin of decoration, rot, and even the collapse of the material. Rising damp usually rises higher in thicker walls, in comparison to thin. Also, a long-term rising damp issue typically results in soluble groundwater salts in the wall. Unfortunately, even after the water evaporates, the salts remain and become concentrated in the plaster. The most tragic thing about it is that these salts can attract more water and absorb is from surrounding areas. This means, even if the initial source of moisture has been addressed and eradicated, the residual salts could cause a continuous cycle of rising damp to occur. Taking this into consideration, it is always beneficial to seek guidance from professional property maintenance teams as they can correctly identify the scale of the issue and take all the measures to resolve and prevent further outbreaks.