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Capillary Damp
At Damp Protection, we provide professional Capillary Damp treatment services to protect your property from long-term moisture damage. Capillary damp occurs when moisture from the ground rises through tiny cracks in walls, bringing salts that weaken the structure over time. If left untreated, it can lead to serious structural issues, unpleasant odours, and health risks.
Our advanced PROsystem offers an effective solution without the need for disruptive construction work, helping to restore and protect your property safely and efficiently.
What is Capillary Damp and how can you recognise it?
Capillary damp is moisture from the soil that spreads through micro-cracks (capillaries) of the building. By entering the cracks, it also brings salts, which further damage the building and accelerate its degradation.
You can recognise the appearance of capillary damp by peeling plaster, unpleasant odours, and damp spots caused by water evaporation and salt action. The spots are usually darker in color, and you will notice them at a height of up to 2 m.
Where capillary damp occurs most often
Rising damp is most common in older buildings built at a time when builders were not aware of waterproof materials such as bitumen and the like. Also, old buildings are often built without foundations, directly on the ground. Examples of such buildings are houses, cathedrals, palaces and other historical buildings.
Capillary damp can also appear in newer buildings, where waterproofing was incorrectly installed during construction
What are the consequences of Capillary Damp?
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The consequences of capillary moisture can be delamination and destruction of materials on the building, unpleasant odours or, worst of all, a health risk for staying in the room, associated with inhaling mold spores
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Capillary damp needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Because the longer capillary damp remains in your building, the consequences of its influence become greater and more dangerous.
Material disintegration and destruction
Capillary damp rises through walls, carrying dissolved salts and nitrates to the surface. As the moisture evaporates, these salts crystallize, expanding in volume and causing plaster to swell while gradually loosening the structure’s binding. In colder months, trapped moisture can freeze, causing cracks and delamination that slowly damage the building fabric.
Early treatment is essential to prevent further damage and protect your living environment.
How can you recognise capillary damp?
Capillary damp can be recognised by a number of visible and noticeable signs both inside and outside a property.
Common signs of capillary damp inside a building include:
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Damp wall parts
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Flaking or blistering plaster
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Stale, musty smell
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Signs of capillary damp outside the building:
If these signs are present, it is important to address capillary damp early to prevent further damage to the structure and indoor environment.
