Getting rid of rising damp specialists sydney means dealing with the root cause of the problem, rather than just treating the symptoms.
Can you live in a house with rising damp?
There are many solutions to this problem, from tanking the walls, changing the plaster, applying a membrane, replastering, and various ventilation systems. However, these all primarily focus on handling the WALL SURFACE problem and will not solve the underlying issue of the rising damp.
Typical Signs and Symptoms of Rising Damp
In most cases, the first noticeable sign of rising damp is that paint, wallpaper, and plaster begin to break down. Often, the deteriorated surfaces will appear as stain marks on interior walls, sometimes referred to as ‘tide marks’, which are caused by salts forming from the surface water.
The salts can penetrate the bricks and masonry. This corrodes them and causes plaster to flake, and paint to blister. In severe cases, the corroding can even cause the masonry to erode.
Devaluation of the property
A recurring issue, rising damp will affect the value of your property and could mean it doesn’t fetch a good price on the market. It can also lead to regulatory action, resulting in fines and legal issues.
Often it is a combination of several factors contributing to a damp problem and can be difficult to diagnose without professional help, especially in older buildings. It is important to have a full survey with a moisture meter carried out.
The surveyor will then be able to make a more informed decision on the best method of treatment, which is based on the moisture meter readings, and other evidence from the walls. For example, if the wall is very damp and has lots of mould, then it may be better to spray the affected area with an anti-fungal treatment to kill off the mould.