The Permanent Fixes

There are several ways to stop rising dampRising dampMoisture from the ground that climbs up inside walls through the pores of the materials. It shows as stains, blown render and salts at the foot of walls., and the right choice depends on the building's age, wall thickness and budget. There's no single "one size fits all" solution — there's the right solution for a specific building.

The most common method today is creating a chemical damp-proof course: a specialized liquid (usually siloxane or silane-based) is injected under pressure into a series of holes drilled along the base of the wall. The material diffuses through the material's pores and, once cured, forms an impermeable layer that stops moisture climbing any further — essentially an artificial barrier where no membrane ever existed.

On walls with severe or long-standing damage, it's often better to remove the old, affected plasterRender (plaster)A layer of mortar (sand, cement or lime, and water) spread over brick or concrete to give a wall a straight, sound surface ready for paint or tiles. to a height of at least 1 metre above the visible damp line and replace it with specialized breathable renders (a "re-plastering" system). These renders don't stop moisture from being present inside the wall, but they let water vapor escape outward without bubbling or peelingPeeling paintWhen paint loses its grip and lifts off in flakes or sheets. It is almost always a sign of a problem underneath, usually damp or poor preparation., while trapping the saltsEfflorescence (salt deposits)A white, powdery or crystalline crust on the surface of a wall. It is salts carried by water through the masonry, left behind when the water evaporates. before they reach the surface.

In extreme cases — old buildings with very thick stone walls or severe ground moisture — we combine both methods along with external foundation waterproofingWaterproofingThe work and materials that stop water getting through on flat roofs, balconies, bathrooms, basements, planters and tanks. where that's feasible. The cost of a typical chemical barrier treatment on a 10-linear-metre wall usually runs to a few hundred euros, while a full re-plastering restoration costs more but delivers a cosmetic refresh alongside the fix.