Rising Damp Treatment
Rising damp happens when ground moisture travels up through a wall because the damp-proof course has failed, been bridged or was never there. It shows as a tide mark up to about a metre high, often with salt deposits and blown, crumbling plaster. We treat the cause — a new damp-proof course — not just the symptom, so the wall can dry out and stay dry.
Quick answer
Rising Damp Treatment typically starts from £350 — from £350 per wall for dpc injection — priced by length and access. We confirm a fixed written price after a survey, before any work starts.
What rising damp involves
Left untreated, rising damp keeps drawing ground salts and moisture into the wall, ruining plaster and decoration and, over time, affecting skirtings and floor timbers. The fix is to install a new chemical damp-proof course by injecting a water-repellent cream into the mortar bed, which cures to form a continuous barrier that stops moisture rising past it.
Because rising damp pushes salts into the old plaster, a new damp-proof course on its own isn't enough — those salts keep pulling in moisture from the air. That's why treatment is almost always paired with damp-proof re-plastering using a salt-resistant system, so the wall dries out cleanly and can be redecorated without the tide mark bleeding back through. A proper damp survey confirms it really is rising damp first, since condensation and penetrating damp look similar but are treated completely differently.
What's included in every rising damp job
- ✓New chemical damp-proof course injected into the mortar bed
- ✓Affected salt-contaminated plaster removed back to brick
- ✓Salt-resistant re-plaster system applied so the wall can be redecorated
- ✓Work backed by a written workmanship guarantee
When you might need rising damp
The most common situations we're called out for — if yours isn't listed, send a couple of photos through the contact form and we'll tell you exactly how we'd handle it.
A tide mark on the wall
A horizontal stain up to roughly a metre high on a ground-floor wall, often darker along the top edge.
Blown or crumbling plaster
Plaster that’s bubbling, powdery or coming away near the skirting, sometimes with white salt deposits.
A damp report before a sale
A mortgage valuation or buyer’s survey has flagged rising damp and you need it treated and guaranteed.
How It Works
- 1
Book a free damp survey
Tell us what you’re seeing — a tide mark, black mould, blown plaster or a survey that flagged damp. We arrange a visit, usually within a few days.
- 2
We diagnose the real cause
On site we identify whether it’s rising, penetrating or condensation damp (they’re treated completely differently) and give you a clear, honest explanation.
- 3
You get a fixed written quote
A clear, itemised price for the recommended work — no pressure, no vague estimates that move on the day, and no charge for the survey on standard jobs.
- 4
We treat it and guarantee it
The work is carried out to industry standards, the area is left clean and ready to redecorate, and the treatment is backed by a written workmanship guarantee.
Damp Proofing Price Guide
Indicative pricing — every job gets a fixed, written quote after a survey. No hidden extras.
Damp survey & report
diagnosis
Free
Free for straightforward jobs; a detailed independent survey report is available for mortgage or purchase cases.
DPC injection (per wall)
rising damp
from £350
Chemical damp-proof course injection to a single affected wall — priced by length and access.
Damp-proof re-plaster
per room
from £600
Salt-resistant re-plastering after treatment, so the wall can be redecorated cleanly.
Basement / cellar tanking
waterproofing
from £1500
Structural waterproofing (tanking or cavity membrane) — quoted per project after survey.
Often needed alongside rising damp
Damp problems rarely come alone — these related treatments are commonly part of the same job, for example damp-proof course (dpc) injection, damp-proof re-plastering and damp surveys & reports.
Where we cover rising damp
We provide rising damp treatment right across England, Wales and Scotland as part of our regular damp proofing coverage, including busy counties such as Greater London, Greater Manchester, Kent, Devon, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Hampshire and Merseyside. Not sure if we reach you? Check the full areas we cover or just send your postcode with your enquiry.
Rising Damp — frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have rising damp or condensation?
They're often confused. Rising damp shows as a tide mark up to about a metre on ground-floor walls, sometimes with salt staining; condensation shows as black mould in corners, around windows and in poorly ventilated rooms. A survey confirms which it is — the treatment is completely different, so getting the diagnosis right first matters.
Do I need to re-plaster after damp treatment?
Usually, yes. Rising damp carries salts into the plaster that keep drawing moisture even after the DPC is in, so the affected plaster is removed and replaced with a salt-resistant system. This is what lets the wall dry out and be redecorated without the problem coming back through.
What is a damp-proof course (DPC)?
A DPC is a barrier that stops ground moisture rising up through a wall. Older properties may have a failed or missing one; we install a new chemical DPC by injecting a water-repellent cream into the mortar course, which cures to form a continuous barrier.
How long does damp proofing last?
A correctly installed damp-proof course and salt-resistant re-plaster should last for decades, which is why the work is backed by a written guarantee. The key is treating the actual cause, not just covering the symptom — which is what the survey stage is for.
Damp is treated by cause, not by symptom: rising, penetrating and condensation damp look similar but need completely different treatments, which is why every job starts with a proper survey and diagnosis before any work is quoted.
Book a free survey for rising damp
Tell us about the damp and your postcode — we'll arrange a survey and a fixed written quote.