How to treat rising damp?

Rising damp can have a very harmful effect on buildings if not solved in time. Discover in this article all about causes and consequences, treating rising damp and the products Reynchemie offers to make your walls waterproof again.

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What is rising damp?

Absorbent moisture or rising damp is unfortunately more common than people think. Many houses suffer from rising damp, sometimes without this being visible to the naked eye. In fact, it is nothing more than moisture that finds its way up through materials such as stone or concrete to higher floors of a house or business premises.

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Causes of rising damp

There are 3 most common causes of rising damp: 1) lack of a cavity in a wall, 2) presence of salts in the wall and 3) moisture rising from the basement.

1. The absence of a cavity in the wall ensures that moisture can penetrate from outside and also reduces the insulation value. This often occurs in older houses, which often consist of solid walls without the presence of a cavity.

2. The presence of hygroscopic salts in the wall causes it to continuously attract moisture. These salts come from the soil, fertilisers and road salt and attract moisture. This can be soil moisture, rain and seepage water, but also condensation from the inside.

3. Due to its location, a cellar or other underground area is naturally susceptible to moisture problems. Moisture can penetrate as a result and in different ways: as groundwater seeping in, water seeping out after heavy rainfall or through condensation.  

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Consequences of rising damp

Rising damp leads to various problems. At first sight, one thinks of (at first sight) innocent matters such as a musty smell and moisture spots on walls and ceilings. This can ultimately lead to more pernicious consequences such as loose wallpaper, peeling paint and plaster, loose skirting boards, wood rot and even mould. In addition, there is a detrimental effect on the health of the building's occupants.

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Treating rising damp

There are 4 ways to treat rising damp: 1) waterproofing the basement via basement waterproofing, 2) installing a water barrier or drainage system, 3) installing a ventilation system or 4) injecting the walls with a hydrofuge.

1. Basement waterproofing

Reynchemie has decades of experience in basement waterproofing with an expertise in the field and an extensive product range. Read our article "The importance of a watertight cellar" to find out everything about this method of moisture control!

2. Installation of a drainage system

In a drainage system, the moisture from the walls and/or floor enters a specially placed bubble wrap, after which it is drained off via a drainage edge that collects the moisture and transports it to a collection pit, connected to a drainage channel.  

3. Installation of a ventilation system

Condensation causes many moisture problems not only in the cellar, but also in higher levels. Due to insufficient ventilation, moisture cannot escape and consequently adheres to the surfaces that are present. Ventilating the room properly ensures that fresh air is constantly supplied and moist air is removed, thus preventing condensation.

4. Wall injection

Injecting the walls with a water repellent offers a lasting solution to numerous moisture problems. Virtually all surfaces can be injected using this method. Wall injection is the solution of choice for localised damp spots and sporadic penetrating damp, as well as for not very advanced rising damp.  

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Performing wall injection

Wall injection can be carried out with both solvent-based and water-based systems. Water-based injection products are available in liquid or gel form. The effectiveness of the products depends on the type of active ingredient and on their formulation (water-based, solvent-based, cream or gel).  

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Reynchemie has 2 injection products against rising damp: RC Drygel 80 and RC 310 ECO:

RC Drygel 80 is an environmentally friendly injection cream consisting of 80% active ingredient. Due to the transition phase from a gel to a vapour phase, it spreads optimally in the injected wall so that a watertight barrier layer is obtained in walls with cavities, cracks and fissures, as well as in hollow concrete blocks and materials such as quick-build brick and aerated concrete. Our injection cream is free of solvents and poses no risk - including odour nuisance - to the user or occupant. RC Drygel 80 achieves a "highly efficient product" score at the WTCB.

After removing the skirting boards, panelling and affected plasters on the wall, you can proceed with injection. Drill horizontal holes with a diameter of 12 or 14 mm and a distance of 10 to 12 cm at an angle of 10 to 15°. Insert the injection needle completely until the end of the drill hole and pull back a few cm. Squeeze the gun gently and, while gradually withdrawing the gun, fill the borehole completely with RC Drygel 80 to within 1 cm of the wall surface. The drilled holes should be subsequently sealed with RC 221.  

After injection with RC Drygel 80, it is advisable to brush off the salt efflorescence after it has dried out and to treat it with salt blocking agents RC Nitrablock or RC Sulfastop. To ensure an extremely efficient result, the salt-buffering and slightly water-repellent plaster RC Sanisel is applied to the wall. Finish with finishing coat RC Calcoliss 300.

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RC 310 ECO is a solvent-based injection liquid that has an unlimited practical life and gives a definitive and effective result. RC 310 ECO is suitable for both thin and thick walls and achieves score A+ (highest efficient) according to the WTCB.

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Range and expertise of Reynchemie

Fighting damp is not an easy job. There are a lot of things to take into account: choosing the right products and materials, respecting the right drying period, applying the right techniques... Also bear in mind that every situation is different and requires a specific approach. We therefore do not recommend fighting moisture yourself.

Want to be sure of a correct diagnosis and approach?Then please contact one of our technical advisors via Contact. Our technical advisors can also recommend a certified company to seal your cellar.

Be sure to check out our full range of rising damp products and consult our rising damp technical brochure.