Home Damp and Condensation Case Histories Random pictures of what the damp wallies call Rising Damp

Random pictures of what the damp wallies call Rising Damp

This was diagnosed by a PCA member firm as rising damp!

This was diagnosed by a PCA member firm of rising damp wallies as rising damp on a wall in London. Richard went to have a look, and took up a bit of floor. The wall underneath was bone dry. The plaster was gypsum, and suffering a bit of condensation. PCA wanted to inject and replaster everything. Cheap solution - a bit more ventilation in the cupboard. Expensive solution - knock a bit off and replace with lime plaster. Cost - couple of hundred pounds. All now inexpensively sorted without recourse to any rising damp treatments and snake oil provided by property care association members with their phoney CSSW and CSRT 'qualifications' that have no academic credibility.

Georgian Townhouse with 'Serious Damp Problems'

This is a magnificent building with what were described as major damp issues. Using thermal imaging, we showed how water was penetrating, and directly related to faulty drainage from the roof. So simple - there was no 'rising damp' as claimed, and the problem was actually fixed in a matter of half an hour, by repairing a broken cast iron downpipe.

Thermal image of penetrating damp wrongly diagnosed as 'rising damp' in the corner of a building. Caused by a drainpipe discharging against the wall, soaking it for years.

Wall diagnosed with 'rising damp' was not - penetrating damp from leaky rainwater pipe - exposed with thermal imaging camera in the previous photo. Plaster was taken off, the wall dried out, problem solved.

Thermal image of penetrating damp wrongly diagnosed as 'rising damp' and caused by leaking downpipe

Leaky rainwater pipe wrongly diagnosed as rising damp. Exposed with thermal imaging - simply fixed.

Condensation related to plaster dabs in old farmhouse

This was a survey we did recently in which the owners had 'renovated' the building - using plaster dabbed plasterboard on single brick walls. These were cold, and the dabs were heat sinks - cold bridging, so that the wall developed 'rising damp' symptoms on all the walls that were dabbed. The solution was very simple - removal of all the dabbed plasterboard, and thermally efficient dry lining, using steel framing, insulated with sheepwool.

Thermal image of dot and dabbed plasterboard causing thermal bridging - every spot is damp from condensation forming on a cold external wall. As always, this was 'diagnosed' as 'rising damp'!

Mould on wall from condensation - gypsum plasterboard dot and dabbed causing thermal bridging and cold. Thermal imaging reveals how bad this practise is. NEVER do it!

Thermal image of dot and dabbed plasterboard causing thermal bridging - each spot is damp from condensation.

Mould on wall from condensation - gypsum plasterboard dot and dabbed - causing thermal bridging. Thermal imaging shows how bad this is. NEVER dot and dab plasterboard!

How a purchase survey led to mis-selling of damp treatments Midland Preservation

Look out for any damp proofing company that talks about GPI - 'Guarantee Protection Insurance'. Ever heard of Payment Protection Insurance ? Same thing - these guys are flogging insurance that supposedly covers you when they go out of business. Try claiming - every excuse under the sun will emerge, including a sudden realisation that actually you don't have 'rising damp' and the new problem is condensation, therefore not covered by the 'Guarantee'. GPI is a scam - avoid it! Also avoid anything talking about Sovereign - they are just a chemical company flogging their toxic wares.

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Pete's on BBC Radio 4 now!

Pete recently did an interview on BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours - which investigated a case history of failed cavity wall insulation.

Guidance concerning Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings

This is the English Heritage Guidance document that covers almost all the issues I cover in this site.

An Irish client and his magnificent restoration blog

Our client, John, wanted help with this restoration - it led to this great blog.

Rising damp is a myth, says former RICS chief

Stephen Boniface, former chairman of the construction arm of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS ), has told the institute’s 40,000 members that ‘true...

It's Condensation Season!

The phone is running off the hook with calls about condensation. Find out how to solve your issues.

About Us

The Heritage House brand is Petes brainchild. He lives in a beautiful old farmhouse in Shropshire He's worked all over the world on old buildings, and has a strong background in geochemistry. He is passionate about ensuring the 'Rising Damp' myth is firmly buried. Pete has an all consuming project to re-open a Victorian lead mine in the Northern Pennines - digging out and exploring miles of abandoned tunnels in the search for crystal lined cavities...

This website is for information only. If you want or need a building survey, a damp survey or advice, you need to follow the links to our sister company Heritage House Surveys.

Random pictures of what the damp wallies call Rising Damp

This was diagnosed by a PCA member firm as rising damp!

Georgian Townhouse with 'Serious Damp Problems'

Condensation related to plaster dabs in old farmhouse

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