Rising damp myth pdf

In 2008, howell published a book titled the rising damp myth 2008. The rising damp myth the original plasterers forum the. Countering the rising damp myth is difficult, because the parties involved clients, mortgage lenders, chartered surveyors, and dampproofers form a kind of circle of. Rising damp is a myth, says former rics chief news. All sources of moisture other than rising damp systematically discounted. He shows that when dampproofing fluids are injected into damp masonry, substantial amounts of moisture remain. In simple terms, the water rises up the porous wall of a building in the same way water is soaked up by a. Whilst i have often been quoted as stating rising damp is a myth the only time i have ever said that phrase or similar is once when delivering a paper at a conference and then using the intake of breath as a cue to then develop the argument further and explore the issue of damp. Quantify the moisture content of the test panel walls at the start and end of the. This book on rising damp is well known in surveying circles, even though most surveyors have never read it. Rising damp is a phenomenon experienced by some, disputed by many and understood by few. It doesnt help to make the argument too polarised which is sadly, what the rising damp myth book did. The surveyor, who says there is extensive dampness in all the walls is actually just a salesmen for chemical damp proofing products. In other words, i used the phrase provocatively it usually.

Rising damp destroys the comfort of a home, creating musty smells and causing or aggravating asthma and allergies. This is one of the most common questions we are asked at wise property care. I think the rising damp myth people are probably poking a bit of fun at those devotees of the term. Has anybody had a read of the book on the myth of rising damp. A survey on a property to determine if there is presence of rising damp should be undertaken by a member of the damp proofing association dpa or similar competent persons holding professional qualification such as ricsbschnchnd. If left untreated, rising damp can carry soluble salts up into the masonry, causing whats known as efflorescence, which can eventually destroy foundations and in severe cases result in once solid masonry eroding and crumbling away. Rising damp its control surveying types of dampness before treating a wall for rising damp, it is essential to determine whether the dampness in the wall can be solely attributed to rising damp or whether other causes such as condensation or rain penetration may be contributing to the dampness. Rising damp is a topic of water damage that is commonly occurring in many homes. When tackling any form of damp problem, the first step to treating damp is to identify whether you have rising damp or penetrating damp. In response, elaine blackettord, chair of the register of architects accredited in building conservation, has also spoken out against rising damp. Rising damp is a common problem when water absorbs through a brick foundation and causes damage to your walls.

The surveyor, who says there is extensive dampness in all the walls is actually just a salesmen for chemical dampproofing products. The real problem is dodgy diagnosis and that is what i am dedicated to fixing. Rising damp myth the author of this blog is a science graduate and knowledge produced within this blog has academic support. A lot of people simply dont understand it and why it is unique from other damp problems. These people are members of a chemical industry association called the property care association, or pca for short. The moisture can also draw up salt from the ground, which crystallises in the bricks and causes plaster to flake and paint to blister. Any fictitious story, or unscientific theory, belief, etc, and 2. The only way in which rising damp can be stopped by the introduction of an impermeable horizontal barrier at the base of the wall. We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising.

Their website is flashy, and deliberately, desperately tries to make them look professional. After many years of prevarication, i finally took the plunge and read the rising damp myth. How to get rid of rising damp australian handyman magazine. Rising damp can significantly affect the integrity and value of a property and superficial treatments such as repainting, coating, or cleaning the surface wont make it go away. Heat loss caused by rising damp lowers the surface temperature of walls. What is often reported as rising damp is most likely caused by penetrating dampness. In particular jeff howells book, the rising damp myth and stephen boniface, former chair of the rics building surveying faculty, has also gone on record to state his belief that rising damp is a myth. The book discusses the part mortgage lenders have to play in the risingdamp myth, and the lack of practical training given to surveyors. Rising damp is a potentially serious property problem that can affect ground floor walls in buildings of any age. Rising damp is a tricky type of damp that usually requires professional help to get rid of. This scepticism reached its apogee in 2008 when the rising damp myth, a book written by qualified bricklayer jeff howell, was published.

Whether it is rising damp or penetrating damp, it is important to recognise the signs of damp and how to treat effectively. The surveyor, who says there is extensive dampness in all the walls is actually just a salesmen for chemical damp. Jeff and i once produced a training video discussing the issue. Read our advice to what rising damp treatments are available. Rising damp is a mythyou may think so if you read the. Some of you may even remember leonard rossiter in the tv sitcom. The simplest explanation is that rising damp is present in the interior renderplaster systems when ground water is able to rise up through the walls by capillary action, this may be a result of a nonexistent or a faulty damp proof course. Yet another nail in the coffin of the rising damp myth millions are spent every year in the uk curing a problem that does not exist. Rising damp is a mythyou may think so if you read the book, now. The book discusses the part mortgage lenders have to play in the rising damp myth, and the lack of practical training given to surveyors. Rising damp is a term coined by the british damp industry to help them sell chemicals. This means that the reasons for damp being evident can be easily misdiagnosed and the wrong method of management recommended.

Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Indeed, there has even been a book written, the rising damp myth in which the author claims exactly that rising damp is a myth by definition a myth is 1. The rising damp myth has become so powerful, and so deeply ingrained in the psyche of the construction professions, that to question it is to invite denial and even ridicule. However, i have instead decided on a classic comedy of the seventies, rising damp. Rising damp is a result of ground water breaching your damp proofing course and rising up through the buildings bricks and mortar. How to treat rising damp what is rising damp and what. Pdf rising damp is one of the main problems affecting historical masonry structures all over the world, as it jeopardises. The myth people have a very specific definition of rising damp which i think.

Over the last few years there has been a considerable amount of debate concerning the existence of rising damp. What is rising damp learn all about the damp issue. Luckily, theres an easy way to fix rising damp before it reaches further up your wall using a chemical cream. Rising damp is a myth, says former rics chief news architects. Tell your buyers that they need an independent dampness survey carried out to the standards described in building research establishment digest 245, and under no circumstances allow. Stephen boniface, former chairman of the construction arm of the royal institution of chartered surveyors rics, has told the institutes 40,000 members that true rising damp is a myth and chemically injected dampproof courses dpc are a complete waste of money. Anyone who has bothered to read jeff howells book the rising damp myth will know that the damp test pillars referred to were built using the special mortar developed at the bre in order to artificially create rising damp. Stephen boniface, former chairman of the construction arm of the royal institution of chartered surveyors rics, has told the institutes 40,000 members that true rising damp is a myth and chemically injected damp proof courses dpc are a complete waste of money. The only way to treat rising damp is to create a new dampproofing course to prevent moisture movement through the structure.

Although charlie is harmless philip persuades rigsby that he is a fawcetts python, one of the deadliest in the world. Tipps gegen sanierpfusch im bestimmt frechsten baubuch aller zeiten pdf ebook. She was sure it was condensation, i confirmed rising damp along with a nice salt band of chloride, she said that the book was a waste of money then i still cant believe some idiots actually think it doesnt happen. Each masonry bridge proves to you that rising damp in masonry walls does. Rising damp occurs when moisture from the soil surrounding the home finds a way into the structure of your home creating damp conditions that allows mould to thrive. Pdf bog an independent damp and timber survey service. This is understandable because the problem of structural damp has many causes, some of which can be interrelated. This mortar was basically chalk and brick dust unlike any mortar. But before we can analyse the veracity of the claims made in this book, we must first look at what rising damp actually is. If the rising damp is to be eliminated, it is essential that the precise cause of the breakdown in the dpc is established. Healing rising damp in masonry walls and cellars of old. The term rising damp is a meaningless directional description. Its actually one of the most commonly discussed versions that happen, and despite the debates you can find out that rising damp is very common and can occur to anyone. If left untreated, rising damp can create a damp and unpleasant environment in the home, with damp patches spreading upwards from the base of the walls, spoiling skirting boards, paint, wallpaper and masonry.

The truth about rising damp in houses preservation expert. Rising damp receives much more attention in surveying texts than the subject merits. There have been a number of commentators who have done nothing to move this issue forward over the last few years. You have probably heard of the expression rising damp. Many properties are affected by dampness at some time during their. I would go so far as to say that rising damp is a myth. Once again, expert advice from dwasa should be sought. Rossiter is rupert rigsby as far as i know his first name was only mentioned in the disappointing 1980 film version, the tightfisted and mean.

In short, rising damp in buildings occurs when water from the ground rises up through the bricks and mortar of a building by capillary action. Here however i am referring to that phenomenon of damp staining and failed plaster at low. Typical signs of rising damp rather than other damp problems are a tide line of yellowish or brownish staining or blown plaster in the lower area of. The water rises through the pores capillaries in the masonry by a process loosely termed capillarity. Rising damp is most often found in older homes that dont have a damp proof course dpc or where a dpc has failed. How rising damp can rise up from the ground and on up into your walls. Paul kenyon, the presenter of raising the roof ended the. In fact, rising dampness is a significant factor in only a very small proportion of dampness problems. In this book, jeff howell attacks the assumptions that have given rise to a multimillionpound industry. To add to this a friend of mine in the professional world is jeff howell who once wrote a book called the rising damp myth. Taken from rising damp series 1 episode 6 i do requests for the episodes as i have all the series. Out of all the various types of damp that can affect properties, as well as all the different treatments that can be used as solutions to the problems it causes, one issue stands out and is by far the most talked about. It often occurs where there is no dampproof course dpc or where the dpc has been damaged or bridged.

You may have even heard some say that true rising damp is a myth. I studied materials technology at hertfordshire university. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. The shows two stars, leonard rossiter and richard beckinsale are both deceased, the latter at a tragically young age. He shows that when damp proofing fluids are injected into damp masonry, substantial amounts of moisture remain. Older houses, such as depicted in the show, were built without dampproof courses or with a barrier material that is liable to failure.