From the Banana Box to Rising Damp. From Rooksby to Rigsby. Rising Damp seems to be far more famous as a television series than a serious damp problem in buildings – and rightly so!
A television sitcom that ran in the 1970s, Rising Damp was loved and watched by millions and repeats of the show still continue to be regularly shown on several tv channels today. This cannot be said of the actual damp problem of the same name, though it does still appear in homes today (not through the television set of course).
Anyone who has had a rising damp problem before will understand the real damage and problems it can cause in the home. From rotting skirting boards to damaged plaster and internal decoration, sorting out the problem with the help of a rising damp expert is only the start, then you have the headache of re-decorating – repairing damage to your beloved wall paper or replacing your skirting board. The set of the tv series showed very cramped living conditions and tatty wallpaper, perhaps it too had a genuine rising damp problem?
The main causes of rising damp are known and can include the failure of a damp proof course, or not having a damp proof course in the first place. Leaking water pipes can sometimes be the cause, as can residual dampness from a previous penetrating damp problem.
Luckily a damp survey by a qualified technician can easily identify the problem and the main cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment. I remember watching a damp specialist in my home using these clever little monitors, which when placed on a particular wall, can identify if the wall has damp or not – it lit up like a Christmas tree in my case!
Most rising damp specialists will not only fix the problem with the installation of a damp proof course, they should also be able to carry out the necessary re-plastering work, leaving you to re-decorate. Perhaps it may even be a blessing in disguise. Time to try out a new bolder paint colour on your wall or to attempt wallpapering for the first time!
Getting back to the television series (see Rigsby in action)…apparently the format for the tv show was sold to American TV bosses, but it was a flop and never even aired! Our friends over the pond truly missed out on a classic! Unlike television bosses though, rising damp is not picky. It can take hold of properties anywhere in the world…well, anywhere there is damp and moisture. I reckon buildings in desert locations are pretty safe though, don’t you?
12 Comments
Hi, We are in process of selling our house only to find the survey turned up a damp problem on most of our non load bearing walls bottom 27cm only. We have never noticed any damp during the time we have been at the property which is over 20 years. Is this likely to be an exprensive problem to cure?
“…these clever little monitors, which when placed on a particular wall, can identify if the wall has damp or not….”
Nah, they just measure the wall coating’s electrical resistance. If it’s got a lot of water in it it will reduce the resistance and the lights will light up, but it will do that if there’s lime plaster on the walls, foil-backed wallpaper, salt damage or surface condensation (to name the most obvious). The really good surveyors know that the pattern of the resistance readings is far more useful that the scale of the readings. So; where you get lights rather than how many you get.
Thank you for your question and hopefully the below information will help, though it is based on some assumptions.
Assuming that you have had a valuation survey carried out which identified the dampness, from the description given, a non load bearing support wall would normally be a stud partition ie an internal dividing wall constructed normally of a timber frame with insulation in the middle and plasterboard surfaces.
Firstly we cannot comment if the above is the case without an inspection, it is not clear if the property is 20 years old or that you have occupied the property for 20 years. If the property is only 20 years old it is unlikely to be rising damp but rather some building defect. It would help to know if there have been any plumbing leaks in the property in the last few months. Also was it a lending institution surveyor or a Damp & Timber treatment company who identified the problem?
We would be happy to provide more information if you require it, so please feel free to email us at propertycare.hoffice@rentokil.com with some more information about your property.
Thanks Matt and Andy for the info. The property was built in 1952, and there is absolutely no damage showing to anything. These non load bearing walls are a single layer of breezeblock at the bottom with brick wall above, but that clever little monitor kept going off. I have subsequently found out that they were designed to read damp in wood not stone brick etc (Sunday telegraph Ask Jeff) and that they can also show damp in perfectly dry clinker and other type of brick. So I am now armed with this info. I will pass this onto our prospective buyers and they can decide what to do.
. . . am going slightly crazy! decided to use rentokill for huge damp problem in our home – but have been put off by blogging comments! has anyone used them and been happy with results!!!
I think Jeff Howell (AKA Ask-Jeff) can see things a little too black and white at times. Whilst resistance meters are designed (and calibrated) to measure water in wood and will read ‘high’ in certain types of masonry or finish, the pattern will be high all over the wall which should make it obvious to a trained (CSRT or equivalent) user that it’s not registering damp. Unfortunately, mortgage surveyors have a tendency to jam them into the wall and inch over the skirting and note the colour of the LED that comes on. However, they are useful devices if they are used correctly as they are non-destructive.
I don’t know which blog Debra Thomson’s comment refers to, but all I can say is that our staff are fully trained & give accurate, ethical advice.
We get many complimentary letters expressing great satisfaction with the quality of work and professionalism of our employees.
Our work is Guaranteed and should there be a problem in the future we will be around to honour the Guarantee.Our guarantees are passed on to any new purchasers of the property giving peace of mind to future owners and it also assists you in the sale of your property. If you want any further information you could contact me at propertycare.hoffice@rentokil.com
Andy Peters
Managing Director
Rentokil property Care
I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!
Be weary of the man with a damp meter, when an inspection is carried out the surveyor should take into consideration more factors than just what the damp meter says. I should know i am myself a man with a damp meter, lol
You have constructed a fantastic website! I really hope that you really stick to the excellent work. I truly enjoy your posts.
I had Rentokil come to work at my property and while im very happy with the work carried out by the engineer so far, I have to say the customer service I have received subsequently has been below what I would of expected. Nearly 6 months after the work was started (and still not completed) im having issues gettting someone to come back to me. Hopefully Andy will see this and contact me as when I tried sending him a letter via Recorded delivery it was rejected…
Hi Chris
Thanks for your comment. Andy Peters from our Property Care department will be in touch shortly.
Alicia
2 Trackbacks
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Danusia, Pest Control. Pest Control said: Did you watch Rising Damp on TV? More enjoyable than the property related problem of rising damp, read more: http://bit.ly/9TP5SP [...]
[...] Rising Damp On TV and In Your Home | deBugged [...]