The treatment of rising dampness

Abstract

What is rising dampness? Rising dampness results from the upward capillary flow of water from ground into masonry. The force responsible for the flow is associated with the surface characteristics of water (particularly the surface tension), but is not a unique property of water. For example, upward capillary flow occurs in the wick of a paraffin heater, and carries molten wax up the wick of a candle. In the case of a wall not protected by a damp‐proof course, the process is a continuous one and the water will rise upwards and spread laterally to the wall surfaces until the rate of ingress is balanced by the evaporation from the wall surfaces.

Citation

Kyte, C.T. (1987), "The treatment of rising dampness", Structural Survey, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 312-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb006261