Is a damp proof course necessary?
Is a damp proof course necessary?
The reason why a damp proof course is important is because any excess moisture entering a building can lead to more serious property problems such as timber decay or structural damage. Properties that do not have an effective damp proof course are more prone to suffer from the following: Damp problems. Rising damp.
How long does a damp proof course last?
20-25 years
Typically, a physical damp proof course lasts for 20-25 years and can fail due to it not being fitted properly or deterioration. If a damp proofing course has failed then this could potentially lead to rising damp.
How do you fix damp in an old house?
Treatments for rising damp include:
- A chemical DPC injection.
- Replacement of rotting joists or internal flooring which has come into contact with damp.
- Removing and replacing damaged interior plaster.
- Bridged DPC – requiring the removal of bridging materials or soil to enable a minimum of 150mm clearance below the DPC.
How serious is damp in a house?
If left untreated, damp can pose a number of risks including: structural timber decay, damage to plaster, corrosion, health issues for those with asthma and respiratory problems, unsightly staining and mould growth.
How can you tell if a house has a damp proof course?
Look down at ground level and look up about 6 inches or so up the wall. Somewhere around here you will see a thin black line of either slate or plastic running horizontally across the brick work. This is your DPC.
Can you sell a house with rising damp?
Can a house with serious damp issues be sold? The simple answer is ‘yes’, but it depends on the price you want to sell for. In severe cases of rising damp, mortgage companies won’t lend and that means the seller will either need to carry out the work themselves or sell to a cash buyer.
Why does a house need a damp proofing course?
Houses are usually built with a damp proof course (DPC), just above floor level, to prevent moisture rising up, but if this has failed, or the property did not have a DPC, then rising damp can occur. Depending on the extent of the rising damp, this can be a more costly and extensive job to repair.
How is damp proofing used in brick construction?
For the rest of the project, new and better quality bricks will be arranged. Damp Proofing, as the name indicates, makes sure that the moisture doesn’t seep up into the walls. It’s very interesting phenomenon where moisture from the ground moves up into the walls, brick by brick, and it won’t stop until all the linked walls are soaking wet.
Why is slate used as a damp proofing material?
However, unlike synthetics, slate can crack easily, which then makes the DPC penetrable. Once the DPC has been damaged, this allows for moisture to rise through the stone wall, thus causing a rising damp problem.
When was damp proofing made compulsory in London?
During the latter part of the Victorian era, in 1875, DPCs were made compulsory in all new buildings in London.
