Rising damp treatment in Glasgow

What is rising damp?

Rising damp occurs when ground moisture travels up through the masonry of a wall by capillary action — like water climbing up a sponge. It's especially common in older Glasgow tenements and traditional stone-built homes, where the original damp-proof course has broken down, been bridged, or was never there to begin with. Left untreated, that moisture carries ground salts into the plaster, damages timber in contact with the wall, and creates the cold, musty conditions that rot and mould thrive in.

Signs and symptoms

• A tide mark or staining up to around a metre above the skirting
• Blistering, bubbling or crumbling plaster and flaking paint
• Skirting boards and timber that feel damp, soft or are lifting
• White, powdery salt deposits on the wall surface
• A persistent damp, musty smell — often worse in colder months

These symptoms can also point to condensation or a plumbing leak, which is why an accurate diagnosis matters. We use damp meters and experience — not guesswork — to establish what's actually happening before quoting.

How we treat it

Treatment depends on the cause, but typically involves installing a new chemical damp-proof course to stop moisture rising, removing salt-contaminated plaster, and re-plastering with an appropriate salt-retardant system. Where skirtings or timber have been affected, we replace them properly. We always deal with the source first — treating the symptom without fixing the cause is exactly the kind of shortcut we don't take.

What to expect

Every job starts with a free, no-obligation survey. We diagnose the cause, explain it in plain English, and follow up with a clear written quotation — no pressure, no upselling. Work is carried out on time and tidily, and treatment is backed by our 30-year written guarantee, transferable to future owners.