Damp

What It Really is and Why It’s So Often Misdiagnosed

Damp simply means “too much moisture where it shouldn’t be.” It can come from outside, inside, above the floor, or below it which is why proper diagnosis is everything.

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The Truth About Rising Damp

True rising damp can occur, but it’s extremely rare. A physical damp-proof course (DPC) has been installed in UK homes since the 1800s, and in the vast majority of properties, it still works perfectly. So why do so many walls show damp low down? Because of bridging, condensation, or subfloor moisture — not groundwater magically climbing up a wall. Even the former chairman of RICS’ construction arm said: “Rising damp is a myth… chemically injected DPCs are a complete waste of money.” And he was right.

Unfortunately, many companies still blame “rising damp” for almost every damp issue they see. And in most cases, that diagnosis is wrong. At Condentrol, we don’t rely on hunches. We look at evidence, physics, and building behaviour — not myths passed down from sales training manuals.

MISDIAGNOSED

Why Damp is Usually Misdiagnosed

01

High External Ground Levels

If soil, paving or render sits above the DPC line, moisture bypasses the barrier and enters the wall. Two bricks up is usually where the DPC sits any higher ground allows moisture straight in.

02

Internal Plaster Touching a Solid Floor

Plaster is like a sponge. If it touches the concrete slab, it wicks moisture upwards and looks identical to rising damp.

03

Subfloor Condensation

A cold, wet void under the floor makes the lower walls cold. When warm indoor air meets those cold walls, condensation forms again, mimicking rising damp.

04

Condensation Inside the Home

High internal humidity naturally settles on cold spots: corners, external walls, behind furniture. This is the most common cause of black mould.

05

Leaks or Penetrating Damp

Gutters, downpipes, flashing, cracked render — all classic culprits that get ignored while people reach for the injection gun.

Chemical

Why Chemical Injections Don’t Work

Chemical DPCs are sold as a “fix-all”, but they don’t address:

You can pump as much cream into a wall as you like — if the cause is ventilation or ground levels, nothing will change. This is why so many injection jobs “fail”: they were never needed in the first place.

What Condentrol Does Instead

Full internal and external inspection

Ground levels, rainwater goods, pointing, render, plaster contact, floor construction — we check everything.

Subfloor investigation

If you’ve got a suspended timber floor, we inspect the void. Most companies don’t even look.

Moisture readings & thermal checks

To identify cold spots, damp patterns and humidity behaviour.

Honest explanation in plain English

You’ll know exactly what’s happening, why, and how to fix it — often without major expense.

Not a Sales Pitch

Get a Proper Damp Diagnosis

If you’ve been told you have rising damp, let us check the building properly before you spend a penny on treatments that might not work. Let’s find out what’s truly happening.

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At Condentrol, we specialise in identifying the real causes of damp, mould, and condensation in UK homes.

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Contact Details

If you have questions you can contact us

01536 737171

DAMP