Rising and Penetrating Damp in a Mid Terrace House, Hackney E5
A mid terrace house in Hackney had mould and bubbling plaster in the rear conservatory, damp in a first floor toilet and ensuite, and rising damp along the kitchen wall. One survey traced each problem to its own cause, and the work was carried out as a single programme.
Project at a Glance
The Brief
The owner was seeing damp in several rooms at once and wanted to know whether it was one problem or several, and what it would take to fix it properly.
The Survey
The inspection covered the outside and inside of the house, using moisture readings and thermal imaging. Outside, the survey found failed seals and worn flashing around the conservatory, first floor toilet and ensuite windows, aged pointing, a deteriorated rear parapet wall, faulty guttering and flashing, and render at low level touching the ground and bypassing the damp proof course.
Inside, the conservatory had severe mould, bubbling plaster and salts around the window reveals and ceiling junctions, matching the defects outside. The first floor toilet and ensuite showed staining, salts and mould around the window frames. The kitchen had clear rising damp along the skirting line, confirmed by salt contamination and high readings. The basement, which had been tanked before, was found to be dry and performing well.
The Solution
Because the causes were different, so was the treatment.
- Outside: repointing, repairs to the parapet and window junctions carried out from scaffold, and correcting the details letting water in.
- Inside, where rising damp was confirmed: plaster removed to 1.2 metres, a new damp proof course installed, salt inhibiting waterproof render applied and finished with a smooth skim coat.
The Work
The work took around twelve days including the external repairs. The owner signed the job off as complete with no unexpected issues.
The Result
Repairing the outside stops water reaching the walls, and the rising damp treatment deals with moisture from below, so both problems are fixed at the source rather than covered up. Many Hackney terraces have the same mix of issues, especially around hidden parapet and valley gutters. See our page on damp proofing in Hackney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a house have rising damp and penetrating damp at the same time?
Yes, and it is common in older terraces. Each needs its own fix, which is why the survey separates them before any work is specified.
Why does render touching the ground cause damp?
Render that reaches the ground lets moisture climb past the damp proof course, so the wall gets wet even if the damp proof course itself is sound.
Do you carry out outside repairs as well as damp proofing?
Yes. Where the survey shows water getting in from outside, we include repointing, render and junction repairs in the specification so the cause is dealt with.
Damp in more than one room?
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 and works carried out by Advanced Damp. Project completed in Hackney, E5.
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.
