Rising damp: what to know
Rising damp is a possible cause of persistent low-level masonry moisture, but it should not be diagnosed from a tide mark, salts or a handheld moisture-meter reading alone.
What to check first
- Check external ground and paving levels against the damp-proof course where one exists.
- Rule out leaking pipes, drains, gutters, rain splash, bridged cavities and wet plaster from another source.
- Look at the height and distribution of damage and whether the pattern changes after rain.
What not to assume
Do not pay for a new damp-proof course simply because a sales survey found a high meter reading at skirting level.
Sensible next step
Where the pattern remains unexplained, use a competent surveyor who can investigate the building and explain the evidence for the diagnosis.
The clues that matter most
Use several clues together rather than treating one mark, smell or meter reading as proof.
Check external ground and paving levels against the damp-proof course where one exists.
Rule out leaking pipes, drains, gutters, rain splash, bridged cavities and wet plaster from another source.
Look at the height and distribution of damage and whether the pattern changes after rain.
Do not pay for a new damp-proof course simply because a sales survey found a high meter reading at skirting level.
Where the pattern remains unexplained, use a competent surveyor who can investigate the building and explain the evidence for the diagnosis.
Could it be something else?
These routes help separate common causes that can create similar visible damage.
Useful products for this stage
Only products that support the investigation or an appropriate fix are shown here. An active leak or building defect still needs repairing.
