Some surveyors have doubted the very existence of rising damp, and have even suggested dampness can’t rise more than a course or two in masonry. Ralph needed to actually build a brick pier, ‘Camberwell Pier’, and test it himself. He was able to find out what really happens to brickwork subject to a high base water load. Ralph’s research paper includes graphs and tables and practical insight into the realities of moisture rise in masonry.

In spite of the testing, Ralph makes it very clear that ‘rising damp’ – ie moisture sourced from the ground, cannot be fully replicated by masonry piers standing in trays of water.

Camberwell pier replicates more closely a high wall base water load from a surface source. This happens often when perimeter yards are badly drained...........The tray was actually loaded up with collected rainwater.

( But Ralph commonly finds cases of rising damp – and has discussed examples in his book ‘Remedying Damp’ : see Figure 140 on page 104 !

He also commonly finds cases mis-diagnosed – when some less than diligent surveyor reports that wall stains are due to rising damp – that are clearly due to a different moisture source..........)

Camberwell Pier is also given a retro-fit damp course – ie a chemical injection ! Did this work? Can this ever work? Read the review below !

See scientific review :
Journal of Building Appraisal (2010) 6, 5–19. doi:10.1057/jba.2010.13

‘The rising damp tests of Camberwell Pier: Potential height of moisture rise in brickwork and the effectiveness of a modern chemical injection cream damp coursing application’
By Ralph Burkinshaw

www.palgrave-journals.com