“Water in” vs. “Water out”
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…
Rising Damp – Supporting Scientific Evidence & Research Papers
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…
Rising Damp Mechanism – How Rising Damp Develops
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…
Pressure Driven Flows, The Role of Heating
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…
Electrokinetic Effects in the Electrical Double Layer
Short-range Forces Inside the CapillariesWe 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 inside…
The Electrical Double Layer (EDL)
The Water MoleculeWater (H2O) consists of two positive hydrogen and one negative oxygen atom. This combination overall is neutral as the opposite charges (H2 and O) balance each other out.Silicate and water moleculesCapillary Wall - Water InteractionThe situation near a…
The Importance of Salts in Rising Damp
The Importance of Salts The importance of salts in rising damp can not be overstated. Salts are an extremely important but often much neglected aspect of rising damp. The rising water flow draws up diluted salts from the ground, depositing…
How Much Water Is Inside Your Walls?
Some Facts & FiguresThe amount of water that old walls can accumulate from rising damp can be truly staggering.I recently came across a scientific publication (attached at the end of the page) of the Royal Society of London which provided…
Rising Damp – The Water and Salt Cycle
There are 2 distinct, but closely related cycles occurring inside old walls:1. The Water CycleThe water cycle follows the following path: soil > wall fabric > finishing > air.If the wall fabric and finish is breathable, most of the water…
Rising Damp – Four Key Areas of Study
Four Key Areas of Rising DampThe understanding of rising damp involves the systematic study of 4 dynamically interacting key areas:The soilThe wall fabricThe finishingThe environment (air)Water moves through these four areas, starting from the ground, moving through the wall fabric…
Your Own Research on Rising Damp
If you are an old building owner and decide to do an independent research on rising damp, your decision is going to be only as good as your information. If the information you are basing your decision is correct and…
Working Principle of the Magnetic DPC
The magnetic DPC can solve rising damp problems non-invasively. Suitable for listed buildings.
Rising Damp Doesn’t Exist – A Story of Misinformation and Hatred
On the previous page we have looked at the modern standpoint of science on rising damp, backed-up by hundreds of academic research papers, as well as by 200 years of historical records. Based on all the evidence the general consensus…
Moisture Transport Mechanisms in Porous Media
There are many moisture transport mechanisms that contribute to the movement of moisture inside the capillaries. Here is a quick overview of the most important wetting mechanisms.
Magnetic DPC Benefits and Observed Effects on Buildings
Here are some key magnetic DPC benefits: non-invasive, reversible, safe, permanent solution, suitable for all buildings, works on any type of masonry or wall thickness,
Magnetic DPC Installation & Long-Term Monitoring
The magnetic DPC installation is done professionally by one of our trained engineers. The typical installation time for a residential home is about half a day. Here is the installation procedure.