What can cause a Damp Proof Course to fail?
No Damp Proof Course to start with! – Older brick and stone built homes may have been built with no Damp Proof Course. Bridged Damp Proof Course – This can occur for a number of reasons but one of the most common is piling up earth or other materials against the wall outside the house, for example in a flowerbed. This allows water from the pile to seep into the wall above the DPC and rise up the wall. The remedy is to simply remove the soil/debris which will allow the wall to dry out naturally. Other ways in which a DPC can be bridged are within the cavity of the wall. Sometime debris such as cement or mortar can fall to the bottom of the cavity and create a path over the DPC for moisture, the remedy here is to locate the debris and remove it. If the site is not immediately apparent due to a localised damp patch it may be worth taking advice from a professional. If you are laying a path or patio next to the house ensure you allow sufficient height between the new surface and the DPC, e
