Rising Damp Inspections : Diagnosing rising damp issues throughout Victoria
Rising damp is considered to be a 'slow burn' issue, often taking decades to become serious enough to require restoration
Rising damp is always located in brick buildings and is the process whereby moisture gets drawn into the masonry bricks and mortar and then slowly rises upwards via capillary action. As the moisture rises through the bricks and mortar, the salt and mineral deposits that are in the moisture expand and contract as the moisture levels rise and fall and force disruption upon the masonry surfaces. Over time the mortar and the bricks can erode, over many years. It is important to understand that dampness that invades masonry works is generally NOT a major defect. Many building inspectors flag dampness located in a brick wall as a major defect when nothing could be further from the truth. The impact of moisture in your masonary wall surface will take years to develop. The only time it becomes a structural defect is when the mortar has eroded to such an extent that bricks can become unstable. Internally, rising damp will reveal itself by way of blistered plaster and render or decay of existing mortar if the brick wall is natural. These issues are caused by moisture entering the built environment via capillary action or from outside (lateral damp) or even both. The causes of any rising damp need to be identified so it can be rectified. Externally, the issue will show itself by salt deposits on the brick wall and/or erosion of the mortar course and in extreme instances, erosion of the brickwork itself.
We have the most professional and sophisticated testing equipment available which is required to identify water and dampness in any property. Inspection camera, moisture detectors, thermal imaging cameras.