Rising Damp on a Front Entrance Party Wall on Maygrove Road, Kilburn NW6
A property on Maygrove Road in Kilburn had damp and salt staining along the party wall by the front entrance. The cause turned out to be outside: the front step had been raised above the level of the internal floor.
Project at a Glance
The Brief
The owner had bubbling paint and a white tide line along the entrance hall wall and wanted to know why.
The Survey
The survey confirmed rising damp on the party wall at the front entrance, with hygroscopic salts in the plaster.
The external front step had been built up above the internal floor level. That bridges the damp proof course, giving ground moisture a route around it and into the wall.
The Solution
Treatment to the affected section of party wall:
- Hack off the salt contaminated plaster.
- Inject a new chemical damp proof course.
- Apply render and a set coat finish ready for decoration.
The Work
The work was completed over two days, on 19 and 20 October 2026.
The Result
The entrance hall wall was replastered with a system designed to resist the salts left in the brickwork. A raised step or path is one of the most common reasons we see damp at the front of houses in Kilburn and West Hampstead. See our page on damp proofing in Kilburn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bridging a damp proof course mean?
It means something outside, like a step, path or raised ground, sits higher than the damp proof course, so moisture can travel around it and into the wall above.
What is the white line on my wall?
A white or brown tide line is often salts left behind as ground moisture evaporates. They are a common sign of rising damp.
Can I just repaint over salt staining?
Not for long. The salts keep pulling moisture from the air, so paint blisters again unless the plaster is replaced and the cause is treated.
Damp by your front door?
Our CSSW and CSRT trained surveyors find the real cause before recommending any work. Non-invasive survey with a clear written report. No obligation.
Survey carried out by Daniel Nichols at Advanced Damp. Project completed in Kilburn, NW6.
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.
