Rising Damp

What is Rising Damp?

Rising damp can be noticed towards the bottom of your walls. You might become aware of the paints and plasters on the walls starting to blister and come off. Another telltale sign is being about to see a ‘tide-mark’ on the walls just above the skirting boards (usually up to about 1.5m). Although rising damp is very common throughout older homes that haven’t got any damp courses installed, it can still become apparent in newer homes where the installed damp course is of inferior quality.

How does Rising Damp occur?

Rising damp works by the water from the ground being absorbed and travelling through the bricks and mortar of a building. This is referred to as ‘capillary action’. In other words, like a sponge, the water is finding its way through the porous walls of a building.

How to treat Rising Damp?

There are generally two ways to fix rising damp. The ‘Physical Damp Proof Method’ and the favoured, ‘Pressure Injection Chemical Dampproof Course’.

With the Physical Damp Proof Method you can expect to pay a lot more money for a solution that isn’t quite perfect. The problem with the Physical Damp Proof Method is that as well as being able to affect the structural integrity of a building by needing to replace affected bricks or stones; the method of applying a plastic sheet to provide waterproofing can be quite problematic. As the building begins to move, so can the plastic sheet. The Westox Injection method on the other hand, is far less invasive and doesn’t require shifting the bricks.

Best solution for Rising Damp?

It’s referred to as the ‘Westox Chemical Dampproofing Course System’. This system of pressure injection chemical dampproof courses has proven to be very effective over the last 30 years. This dampproofing system has been used rigorously throughout restoration projects on many of Australia’s oldest buildings, including Victorian Terraces, to major conservation projections.

Benefits of Westox Dampproofing Course System:

• Provides protection to the skirting boards and can avoid dampness bridging through the new plaster
• Speed and cleanliness of installation
• Perfect for both heritage buildings and modern buildings
• Doesn’t involve replacing or removing bricks/stones
• Offers a complete prevention against rising damp, not just temporary relief
• If installed by a Westox Approved Contractor (like us), you’ll receive a 20 year guarantee on both materials and workmanship

How does the Westox Injection System work?

After performing an accurate diagnosis on the severity of the dampness and identifying exactly where it’s coming from, our team of skilled Dampproof Course applicators will drill small holes into the brickwork to give them access to the capillaries. From there, we would feed the Westox Injection Fluid into the brickwork as to cover the affected section entirely with the fluid. After doing so, the fluid will begin to spread and disperse all throughout the brickwork. It will create a special membrane, which will allow the bricks to breath, but won’t allow them to carry as much moisture.