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Damp Proofing

Old Damp House-External Ground Level Higher Than Internal

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.32 PM

I have just purchased an end-of-terrace, old (roughly c. 1900's) granite stone built house with a red brick facade to the front of the house). It has been diagnosed with rising damp, penetrating damp and dry rot throughout the lower/ground story. The external ground level is higher than the internal ground level, however I do not own the lane way to the side of the house. I don't want to go the route of horizontal chemical DPC plus internal tanking - and would prefer to try to tackle the damp problems by restoring the breathability of the structure, by taking steps such as removing the cement render from the side wall. However, if I cannot lower the external ground level, do I have a choice other than to go down the tanking / chemical DPC route?

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1 Answer

Sub Electrical Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Swansea

You've answered the question yourself, ground level will raise approx 100mm in 1000 ears, I had a listed building and when faced with the same issues as yourself I was advised by my structural surveyor to lower the ground level 300mm, I did and within 6 months the damp dropped Out of the walls, this combined with opening up the chimneys sorted the problem. As the surveyor said our ancestors didn't build them to be wet, we've made them wet. Remove cement rendering asap!

Answered6 July 2015