The Best 23 Rising Damp Chimney Breast Wall - If rising damp is the issue, the chimney breast will have tidemarks up to one metre long. Hygroscopic salts will also be deposited on the walls. Look for dark or discolored marks on the plaster, and there will be a musty odor in the room, particularly in the area where the chimney breast is located. Rising damp causes chimney damp. If you have stains and damp marks around the base of the chimney breast that are no more than 1.5m high and salt tidemark, this could be caused by a bridged damp proof course (DPC) or a lack of DPC. If you suspect rising damp, look into the possible causes listed below. Damp proof course on a chimney that has been damaged
If you notice damp after removing the chimney breast, there are two possibilities. Hygroscopic salts are the most likely culprit. Another possibility, though less likely in this case, is penetrating damp. Both can necessitate a significant amount of effort to resolve the problem. The "cause" was identified in the survey report as rising damp caused by a missing or ineffective dpc in the chimney breast. Bridging from the concrete hearth and associated earth mound is also possible, allowing moisture to track up the brickwork and plaster. Due to the flooring, it is impossible to confirm whether the hearth is still in place.
If you're unsure whether you have damp on your chimney breast wall or in the stack, here are a few common warning signs to look for: Reoccurring damp patches on or around your chimney breast that worsen during wet weather Damp spots on the chimney breast wall, usually yellow or brown in color
