The Salt Damp story

What is rising damp and salt attack

Rising  Damp and Salt Attack is a world wide problem and is a major cause of decay to masonry materials such as brick, stone and mortar.
This type of porous masonry draws moisture by capillary action from the underlying soils and rocks.   This water carries with it salts in soluble form.   As the water evaporates out of the wall the salts remain in the wall just beneath the surface in a crystal form.   As the amounts of salt crystals grow it will rupture the masonry and cause it and the mortar to fret and crumble.

The problem is further intensified in Australia as we have hotter, drier climates and more silane soils which led to greater rates of transpiration through the wall and evaporation out of the wall

Is your home built before 1970?

In general walls built before 1970 did not have an adequate damp proof course or in some cases no damp proof course at all which has allowed the damp rise as described above causing “Salt Damp”. This does not mean that all damp proof courses used during this time are ineffective but it just means that your home may be at greater risk.

The Salt Damp checklist

IInternally you may need to look for:
• Flaking Paint
• Blistering / Bubbling of Plaster
• Peeling Wallpaper
• Dark moisture stain in Plaster
• Bubbles, white powder or crystals appearing on plaster
• Rotting skirting boards or floorboards
• Wet walls

Externally you may need to look for:
• Fretting / crumbling of mortar
• Salt evident on brickwork
• Dark moisture stain on brickwork
• Deterioration of brick or stone surface