Treatments for rising damp
Information on treatments for rising dampness in council houses.
Rising damp – what are the signs:
Rising damp – what are the signs:
Damp in the walls can look like a wavy line up to approximately one metre from the floor level. This can ruin the wall decoration.
The wall decoration will usually look darker and feel damp.
It can make the plaster bulge and produce salts,
The skirting board will usually be rotten.
The damp could also show as a single patch on the walls.
What should you do
When damp is suspected in the property, please ring our repairs call centre on (0116) 252 7007 and they will arrange an appointment for a technician to visit and inspect the property for damp The result may be one or more of the following:
- Condensation.
- Penetrating Damp
- Water leak
- Rising Damp
Where condensation is the cause of the dampness the technician will give a booklet to the family on how to reduce condensation and offer advice on how to reduce the moisture level within the property.
Where penetrating damp or leaking pipes are found the technician will give an instruction to the local repair depot for the repairs to be carried out.
If rising damp is suspected
We may carry out an additional test – called a calcium carbide test to confirm the diagnosis. The technician will drill into the brickwork on the inside and take a core sample, this is then tested at the home in a device like a vacuum flask, which pressurises the sample and gives a reading. The result of this will be given at the time of the test.
The technician will advise you of which rooms will be treated for rising damp and ask if there are any persons living in the house with breathing difficulties such as asthma. If this is the case then sometimes it may be necessary to move the family out of the property whilst the work is carried out. It must be stressed that this is not always the case and normally we work around the family.
If rising damp is confirmed
It will need treating by injecting a water based chemical into the brickwork. If the property has been treated before (this can be seen by a row of holes on the external brickwork) it will only be necessary to retreat the area affected.
If the property has not been treated before it will be necessary to treat all of the ground floor walls.
In either case an instruction is sent to the contractor who will contact the family to arrange a start date for the works to commence.
There may be a delay, if the adjoining property has been sold, then it is essential that we get consent from the owners to treat the party wall between the two properties before the work commences.
Once the work can proceed the contractor will contact you to arrange a start date.
What you will have to do
The tenant is responsible for clearing all the rooms to be treated including carpets, all furniture and possessions. Large items such as sofa can be left in the middle of the room if there is a one metre wide working space between the walls and the stored furniture. These items will need to be protected with sheets.
The chemical manufacturers recommend that the premises are vacated for 48 hours after the treatment, therefore it is essential that tenants are aware of this and make the appropriate arrangements.
The actual work involves removing all wall fixed items such as radiators, kitchen units, ground floor baths, skirting board, etc. Removing the wall plaster up to one metre high, drilling the brickwork inside and outside, then injecting the water based chemical.
The plaster is replaced and new skirting boards fixed, radiators and wall fixed items replaced. After completion of the works, the new plaster should be left for at least one month before redecorating. Decoration allowance to help with the cost of redecorating and other assistance is usually available and will be discussed at the time of the first inspection.
If you require any further information phone (0116) 252 6162.