Rising Damp in a Lower Ground Floor Flat on Acton Street, Kings Cross WC1X
A lower ground floor flat on Acton Street in Kings Cross was showing rising damp around an internal arch and the back door, even though a damp proof course had been installed by another company a few years earlier. The owner was preparing to sell and needed the problem dealt with properly.
Project at a Glance
The Brief
The owner had damp showing at low level in the lower ground floor flat and was getting the property ready for sale. A damp proof course had been put in by another contractor in 2018, so the first question was why damp was showing again.
The Survey
The survey found rising damp concentrated around the internal arch and the back door, both at low level. Lower ground floor flats like this one sit close to, or below, outside ground level, which keeps the base of the walls exposed to moisture.
The earlier damp proof course was no longer holding back moisture in these areas, and the plaster at low level had become contaminated, so simply redecorating would not have solved the problem.
The Solution
A full rising damp treatment to the affected walls:
- Remove the damp and salt contaminated plaster from the treated areas.
- Inject a new chemical damp proof course into the mortar course.
- Apply a waterproof render to hold back residual moisture and salts.
- Finish with a smooth skim coat ready for decoration.
The Work
The work was completed over three days. Treated walls need time to cure before decorating, and a breathable paint is the best choice once they have dried.
The Result
The flat went forward with the damp properly treated rather than covered over, which matters when a buyer commissions their own survey. Lower ground floor flats in the Georgian and Victorian streets around Kings Cross and St Pancras often show the same pattern. See our page on damp proofing in St Pancras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can rising damp come back after a damp proof course?
Yes. A damp proof course can fail or be bypassed over time, especially at openings like doors and arches. A survey finds where moisture is getting past it before any work is quoted.
Should I treat damp before selling a flat?
A buyer survey will usually pick up high moisture readings at low level. Dealing with it properly, with written paperwork, avoids delays and renegotiation later in the sale.
Why are lower ground floor flats prone to damp?
The walls sit close to or below outside ground level, so they are in contact with damp ground and often have older or bridged damp proof courses.
Damp in a lower ground floor flat?
Our CSSW and CSRT trained surveyors find the real cause before recommending any work. Non-invasive survey with a clear written report. No obligation.
Project completed by Advanced Damp in Kings Cross, WC1X.
Sam Fitzgerald is the founder of Advanced Damp and a working damp and structural waterproofing surveyor diagnosing and treating moisture problems in residential and commercial properties across London and the South East. He is FODCS certified (a Federation of Damp Certified Surveyor) and a member of the Federation of Damp. His hands-on work covers rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation, basement waterproofing to BS 8102, and thermal imaging surveys, and he has personally completed over 400 damp surveys across properties of every type and age. Everything he writes draws directly from jobs he has carried out. He does not write about treatments, products or causes he has not dealt with first-hand in the field.
