The PCA - Offering an Educated Approach to Rising Damp

The Property Care Association (PCA) – a member of Trustmark, the Government-backed scheme to find trusted tradespeople - has been in existence for almost 80 years, formerly as the British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association (BWPDA) and during this time much academic research and practical application has been carried out into the subject of rising damp to reach the understanding of the problem we have today.

Rising Damp is, simply, water from the ground that enters a structure by capillary action. Water that enters or affects a building through any other route can move about in various ways but is not rising damp.

However, the PCA believes rising damp is often misdiagnosed. Therefore, it is important that the investigations into dampness are undertaken by a trained and competent surveyor who can recognise and understand the problem. We would recommend that the surveyor who undertakes investigations has been awarded the CSRT qualification. (Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatment).

Decayed skirting boards, crumbling or salt stained plaster, discolouration and staining, decayed timber floors and peeling paint and wallpaper are all common when walls are affected by rising damp. These defects are not always evident but when they are evident a specialist inspection is always recommended.

Most types of masonry used in the walls of buildings will allow some water movement by capillary action; however, this is usually controlled by a physical barrier or damp proof course. If this physical barrier is absent, has broken down or is damaged then it is often possible to install a remedial DPC to control water rising from the ground.

Water rising from the ground often introduces contaminating salts into the walls and plaster coats. This contamination will often result in a need for the plaster to be removed and replaced using specially formulated salt resistant plasters.
The PCA has recently introduced a new CPD ‘The Treatment of Rising Damp and Preservation of Timber’ (See page 5 for more details).
 
The trade body – which represents the UK’s structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing, flood remediation and structural repair sectors - is noted for its training and technical expertise.

PCA training is a key role of the trade body and underpins its reputation as a major educational provider. The Association already has a well-established training programme that has operated for decades.

Members of the PCA have the skills and experience needed to diagnose, report on and repair buildings affected by rising damp.