How can I tell if the house has condensation problems or it is rising damp ?
Rising damp is a specific ground floor condition manifesting itself on outside walls (although it can also affect some interior walls) starting at the skirting boards and rising up to no more than 1 metre above the floor level. It also has a tendency to peak at the corners of the wall. Condensation on the other hand can arise anywhere in the property where the right atmospheric conditions prevail dependent on temperature, humidity and insulation. The tricky problem however is deciding between rising damp and condensation as the cause of ground floor wall dampness and, sadly, rising damp is incorrectly diagnosed all too often. This is where the skills of a trained and qualified (CSRT) surveyor are needed because the two conditions have very different moisture profiles. • I have a brick built miners cottage which is approx 100 years old and is rendered on the front elevation. There is a 100mm spacing between the bottom edge of the rendering and the pavement outside. The inside walls have
