Rising damp

[Aranea]

... and sadly not the funny kind.

Does anyone know anything about damp proofing? I have just discovered that the extensive damp proofing I had done when we moved into our house has not worked. Every single place they treated is damp. I feel like crying but don't want to introduce any more moisture than necessary.

I will get the company back again to have a look, but am anxious that they'll fob me off with some completely nonsensical line and I won't know any better. What could have gone wrong with the work they did? Why would it have failed to work? It seems such a straightforward process?

what 'symptons' does that damp have?

could it just be condensation?

Well, the spot I actually noticed has a wet patch just above the skirting board, and a bubbling line above one part of the replastered wall, with a spreading damp patch above that.

The other places have no 'symptoms', but someone came round today with a protometer (is that what it's called?) and said that all the other treated areas were in fact damp.

Did you get a guarantee when the work was done? We had some quotes for our previous house and all offered a guarantee, so maybe they would have to fix it?

Yes, it's under guarantee, so I'm getting them back to have a look. I just want to understand what might be going on, because when I've asked them to look at damp spots previously they have talked what I subsequently discovered was complete rubbish. So I don't really trust them and would like to know a bit about it.

Aranea - I am not sure I can say anything helpful, but I also have extensive rising damp in an old house I have bought.
From the research I have done, it seems that there is some controversy about what works best. The problem is that many of the so-called damp proofing companies are really only interested in selling you the treatment that they offer and not so interested in the causes and the best solution.
In my case, I need to do some extensive renovations anyway, so I am hoping that my builder and structural engineer will offer some effective solutions.

I will be watching this thread with interest!!!!!

Yes, I've just been googling and have discovered the controversy .

I don't want controversy, I Just Want To Live in a Dry Hooouuuuuse!

I think I'm going to pay for an independent damp surveyor to come and look at it, as we've also got apparently separate condensation and possibly water ingress through dodgy pointing. So I really want to get this right before I let the controversial and thus far useless damp treatment people come back and rip my home apart.

By the way, Daydreaming, I have just found that a former RICS chief says that rising damp is a myth. FGS, could this not just be straightforward??

Yes, I have heard the myth thing too. But that's no help, is it? The damp itself is real and we need a solution!!! Very good idea about getting someone independent. I may do that too. Good luck and let us know how you get on!