The Effect of Heating - Simple, Non-Technical ExplanationHeating has a very important role in keeping old buildings dry, comfortable and healthy.In building conservation it is a widely accepted idea that slow, steady heating and some ventilation is all you need to keep…
HistoryObserving these effects goes back 30-40 years. Skepticism, some commercial interests but especially missing research about the wall phenomena never allowed for these systems to become mainstream. With the latest ongoing research answering many questions about the nature of moisture…
Health consequences of living in a damp building, especially dampness related respiratory problems, are a hot topic nowadays and for a good reason. This kind of a problem is more common than one would think, so I thought to share…
Research & Development Phases The overall development of the magnetic DPC technology followed a top-down approach in two main stages:Stage 1: Building Level ResearchBecause the objective was to non-invasive;y handle rising damp at building-level, the initial research focused on the "big…
Here are some (common) solutions for the handling of rising damp - both traditional and modern approaches. Some of them are partial solutions to rising damp (e.g. they don't address all critical aspects of rising damp) or they are just…
The Main Challenge - SaltsAfter the installation of a damp proof course, renovation is the second major phase of handling rising damp.The main challenge in renovating after rising damp is the presence of GROUND SALTS.Walls affected by rising damp contain…
The Role of a Damp Proof CourseThe primary role of a damp proof course (DPC) is to be a VAPOR BARRIER from the ground to prevent or minimize the excessive evaporation of water into the wall fabric, which over time develops…
Historical Context of the Rising Damp ProblemRising damp has been affecting old buildings since antiquity. It has been definitely known and documented by the Romans who also worked out solutions to mitigate it, by creating and using special plaster mixes.The…
Rising Damp – Historical OverviewAlthough the existence of rising damp and problems caused by it have been documented since antiquity, its underlying mechanisms has not been well understood.The first known written historical reference about rising damp goes back to ancient Rome.…
What is a Magnetic DPC?A magnetic damp proof course (or magnetic DPC) is the latest technical development in solving rising damp non-invasively, based on the latest research about the mechanism of rising damp and electrical phenomena occurring in damp masonry.Brief…
An Old Farm House with Rotting JoistsWe have surveyed an old farm house, where the floor was already taken up and the joists were getting replaced. The client was facing a very common problem: rotting joists.It is easy to see…
A Special Case of Thermal Expansion As part of our R&D activity we do various lab tests and experiments. When one is doing proper science one can be surprised by an unexpected outcome. This is exactly what has happened recently,…
NO DAMP PROOF COURSE + HIGH WATER TABLE = PROBLEMThis is a case study of a 250 years old stone farm house, with a high water table, where nothing seemed to work... Old buildings built prior to the 1870s often do…
Interview with an old-timer conservation architectWe really enjoyed working with Mr John Dodson, old timer conservation architect, on solving damp problems in the St Peter's Church in Thornton. We couldn't miss this opportunity of asking him about his life-long experience…
Welcome to our "Dampness" section.Dampness is one of the main causes of decay of old buildings. Most common moisture sources affecting old buildings listed below.Rising damp: buildings are sitting on the damp ground. Over time, the porous building fabric can absorb…
The amount of water inside damp walls - and weather a wall is getting damper or drier at any point - is determined by the balance of two factors: Water in: how much water being absorbed into the building fabric…
The international scientific literature contains thousands of research papers on every aspect of rising damp. Here we have listed some, broken down into several categories. Under each title we have given a short summary, but feel free to read the whole…
In the previous sections we have looked at some of the molecular phenomena behind rising damp - the electrical double layer and the effect of short-range forces acting inside capillaries - as well as at some external drivers such as…
The Effect of HeatingIn addition to electrokinetic short-range forces, some external factors - such as temperature and pressure - also affect the movement of moisture inside capillaries.The positive effect of slow, steady heating in old buildings is well known. Heating…
Short-range Forces Inside the Capillaries We discussed earlier that when a liquid comes into contact with a solid surface, a strong electrostatic attraction occurs between them. This attraction is due to a number of strong, short-distance molecular forces that exist…