Rising Damp Treatment Specialists
Tide marks, peeling paint, crumbling skirtings and a musty smell on ground-floor walls? We diagnose whether it is genuinely rising damp, then treat it at the source with a new damp proof course, backed by a 20-year guarantee.
- ✓ Correct diagnosis first: we confirm it is rising damp, not condensation or penetrating damp
- ✓ Permanent fix: a new chemical damp proof course and salt-resistant replastering
- ✓ 20-year guarantee: with an insurance-backed guarantee available on request
Diagnosis First
We confirm it is genuinely rising damp before recommending any treatment.
Certified Surveyors
FODCS certified and members of the Federation of Damp.
20-Year Guarantee
On our damp proofing, with an insurance-backed option on request.
Rated by Customers
Trusted by homeowners with 5-star reviews.
What Is Rising Damp?
Rising damp is groundwater soaking up through the base of a wall by capillary action, like water climbing up a sponge. It happens when the wall has no damp proof course, or where an existing one has failed, been bridged or been damaged.
It is almost always found on ground-floor walls and rarely rises more than about a metre. As the moisture travels up through the masonry it carries ground salts with it, which is why rising damp leaves the tell-tale tide mark and damages plaster and skirtings.
Left untreated, it rots timber, ruins plaster and decoration, and creates the cold, damp conditions that mould thrives in, so it is worth dealing with early.
Signs of Rising Damp
Rising damp usually shows on ground-floor internal walls. Look out for:
Not sure what you are looking at? Try our free 60-second damp checker, or book a survey for a definite answer.
First, We Make Sure It Really Is Rising Damp
Rising damp is one of the most over-diagnosed problems in housing. Condensation and penetrating damp produce very similar marks, and they are frequently mistaken for rising damp, which leads to homeowners paying for a damp proof course they never needed.
Genuine rising damp is real, but it has to be confirmed, not assumed. Our surveyors use moisture meters and a full inspection to establish what is actually causing the problem. If it is penetrating damp or condensation, we tell you, because the treatment is completely different. You only get a damp proof course if you genuinely need one.
Rising Damp vs Penetrating Damp vs Condensation
These three are constantly confused, yet each needs a completely different fix. Here is how they compare:
| Rising Damp | Penetrating Damp | Condensation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it appears | Ground-floor walls only | Any wall or ceiling, near a defect | Cold spots, corners, windows, behind furniture |
| How high | Up to about a metre | At any height | Anywhere, often up high and in corners |
| Tell-tale signs | Tide mark, salt deposits, damaged skirtings | A localised patch that worsens after rain | Black mould, streaming windows, musty air |
| Main cause | No or failed damp proof course | A defect: leak, cracked render, failed pointing | Humid air meeting cold surfaces, poor ventilation |
| The fix | New damp proof course and replaster | Repair the defect, then make good | Ventilation, insulation, sometimes a PIV system |
This is exactly why we survey before we treat. Book a damp survey for a definite diagnosis.
How We Treat Rising Damp
Once rising damp is confirmed, we follow a proven process to stop it for good:
Survey & Diagnosis
A detailed inspection with moisture meters to confirm rising damp, measure how far it has spread and identify why the original damp proof course has failed.
New Damp Proof Course
We install a chemical damp proof course (DPC) into the affected wall in line with BS 6576, the British Standard for remedial DPCs, creating a fresh water-repellent barrier that stops moisture rising from the ground.
Salt-Resistant Replastering
Contaminated plaster is removed and replaced with a specialist salt-resistant render and plaster system, so walls dry out cleanly and stay that way.
How much does rising damp treatment cost? As a guide, treating rising damp starts from around £800 to £1,200 per wall, depending on the length of the wall, access and the amount of replastering needed. A full damp proof course for a whole house costs more, and most properties need more than one wall treated.
What affects the price most: the number and length of walls, how much salt-contaminated plaster has to be removed and renewed, access and the height of the affected area, and whether any associated timber or decoration needs putting right.
You get a fixed-price quote after the survey, and the survey fee is deducted from the cost of the works if you go ahead. All damp proofing is backed by our 20-year guarantee, with an insurance-backed guarantee available as an option on request.
Commonly Mistaken for Rising Damp
A lot of what gets called rising damp turns out to be something else, and none of these are fixed with a damp proof course. This is exactly why we diagnose before we treat:
The classic example
Damp on a chimney breast
Staining on a chimney breast is almost never rising damp. It is usually caused by hygroscopic salts left in the brickwork by years of soot and combustion, which draw moisture out of the air, or by rain getting in through a defective chimney stack, flashing or pot. The fix is to deal with that source and replaster with a salt-retardant system, not to fit a DPC.
The other usual culprits are a bridged damp proof course (where a raised path, render or flower bed lets moisture cross the DPC), penetrating damp from a specific defect, and condensation. Each needs a different treatment, so getting the diagnosis right first is what stops the damp coming back.
What Our Customers Say
★★★★★
"Had a thorough damp survey done by Lionel... The team took my walls back to brick, and treated for rising damp in one area and penetrating damp in another. The work was efficient and clean, and Lionel kept me up to date at every stage with messages and photos."
Tamsin · Checkatrade review★★★★★
"Advanced Damp diagnosed and then remedied a long standing issue with damp where other contractors had failed to address the root cause of the issue. Particularly impressed with their surveyor as well as the thoroughness of the work."
Sarah · Checkatrade review★★★★★
"From the initial survey to completion of the extensive work, this worked very well for us. Sam was always available to answer questions and give updates on the progress of the job. We are impressed with the quality of the finishing and feel our back is covered by the twenty year guarantee."
Peter Buckoke · Trustpilot reviewYour Rising Damp Surveyor
Sam Fitzgerald
Founder & SurveyorSam is the founder of Advanced Damp and a working damp and structural waterproofing surveyor with over 12 years of experience. FODCS certified and a member of the Federation of Damp, he and his team diagnose and treat rising damp in homes of every age, from period terraces to modern houses.
Meet the full team →Where We Treat
We treat rising damp across London, the South East and the Midlands. Find your area:
Rising damp is part of our wider damp proofing service.
Rising Damp FAQs
What causes rising damp?
Rising damp is caused by groundwater being drawn up through porous masonry by capillary action, where there is no damp proof course or the existing one has failed, been bridged by raised ground or paving, or been damaged. The water rises until gravity balances the capillary pull, usually up to about a metre.
How do you treat rising damp?
The proven treatment is to install a new chemical damp proof course into the affected wall to stop moisture rising, then remove the salt-contaminated plaster and replace it with a salt-resistant plaster system. We confirm the diagnosis first, because treating the wrong cause is why damp comes back.
How much does rising damp treatment cost?
As a guide, rising damp treatment starts from around £800 to £1,200 per wall in the UK, depending on the length of the wall, access and the amount of replastering required. You receive a fixed-price quote after the survey, and the survey fee is deducted from the cost of the works if you proceed.
How can you tell rising damp from penetrating damp or condensation?
Rising damp affects ground-floor walls, rises up to about a metre and leaves a salt tide mark. Penetrating damp can appear at any height and is linked to a specific defect such as a leak or failed pointing. Condensation shows as black mould on cold surfaces, corners and windows. A survey with moisture meters confirms which one you actually have.
Is rising damp dangerous?
It is not an immediate danger to health, but left untreated it damages plaster and decoration, rots timber such as skirtings and floors, and creates cold, damp conditions that encourage mould, which can affect air quality. The longer it is left, the more expensive the repairs become.
Does home insurance cover rising damp?
Usually not. Buildings insurance generally treats rising damp as a maintenance issue rather than a sudden, insurable event, so the treatment itself is rarely covered. Damage caused by a specific insured event may be a different matter, so it is always worth checking your own policy wording.
What guarantee do you provide?
Our rising damp treatment is backed by a written 20-year guarantee, and an insurance-backed guarantee is available as an option on request, which protects the cover even if the company were no longer trading.
Related Services & Information
Stop Rising Damp for Good
Book a survey and we will confirm whether it is rising damp and exactly how to fix it, with a fixed-price quote and the fee deducted from any treatment you proceed with.