If you suspect that your property has a damp problem then it is important to arrange a damp survey. These are carried out by a qualified surveyor to ascertain the amount of moisture that has already entered the inner walls of the property. Once a survey has been carried out then the damp company will be able to give you a quotation for a damp proof course, this should involve laying a damp proof membrane for any solid floors in the property.

A damp proof membrane is usually a thick sheet of polythene that is laid beneath the solid floor to keep moisture out of the floor and to keep out ground water. Before a floor is laid a layer of sand will be put down for the damp proof membrane to sit upon before the actual interior floor is laid down. To further de-crease the chances of any moisture getting in through either the walls or floor the damp proof membrane is actually welded to the damp proof course that has been applied to the walls all around the floor, this then in effect creates a huge seal around the walls and interior floor ensuring no moisture is allowed through.

When entering a property for the first time it should not be too difficult to spot any serious cases of rising damp on the interior walls. When ground water rises up into the walls it leaves tell-tale signs behind. Ground water contains sulphates, nitrates and chloride. When the water dries out it leaves a concentrated residue behind.  A white salt band at the highest level of the wall is clearly visible where the moisture climbed up to. Even when the walls have dried out and there is no actual water in the walls they can still remain damp if the salt line remains, this is why it is so important to have walls re-plastered after any damp penetration.

If you engage a reputable damp proofing company to carry out a damp proof course on your home along with a damp proof membrane for your solid floors this should solve any problems you may have concerning damp in your property.