- Rising damp is ground moisture drawn up through masonry, usually because the damp proof course (DPC) is missing, failed or bridged.
- It shows as tide marks, salts and flaking paint low on ground-floor walls.
- Low-level damp is not always rising damp. Leaking pipes, lateral damp and condensation look similar, so it needs diagnosis first.
- Describe the problem once and compare rising damp treatment quotes from contractors across Cape Town.
Tell us about the problem and compare quotes from rising damp treatment specialists in Cape Town.
Compare QuotesSigns of Rising Damp
- A tide mark on ground-floor walls, usually below about 1 metre.
- White, powdery salts on the wall surface.
- Paint bubbling or flaking, and plaster that crumbles or sounds hollow.
- Swollen or rotting skirting boards.
- A musty smell in ground-floor rooms, often worse in winter.
Causes and What the Assessment Should Establish
Common causes
- No DPC, common in older houses.
- A DPC that has broken down with age.
- A DPC bridged by paving, soil, raised flower beds, or plaster and render taken over it.
What a proper assessment checks
- Where the DPC is, and whether anything bridges it.
- The moisture pattern at different heights, inside and out.
- How far salts have spread into the plaster.
- Other sources: plumbing leaks, gutters, downpipes, lateral damp and condensation.
Moisture meters can over-read on salty plaster, so a diagnosis should not rest on a meter reading alone.
Rising Damp Treatment Options and Their Limits
| Option | What it does | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Remove bridging | Lowers soil or paving and cuts back render so the existing DPC works again | Only helps if the existing DPC is intact |
| Chemical DPC injection | Creates a water-repellent band in the mortar course | Walls take months to dry; salty plaster still has to be replaced |
| Physical DPC insertion | Cuts a new membrane into the wall | More disruptive and not suitable for every wall |
| Salt-resistant replastering | Replaces contaminated plaster with a breathable mix | Does not stop the damp on its own |
| Damp-proof paint | Hides stains | Traps moisture and usually fails if the cause is not treated |
For the barrier itself, see damp proof course installation. For plaster and finishes, see damp wall repairs.
What the Work May Include
- Moving furniture and removing skirting boards.
- Hacking off damp, salty plaster, usually to about 1 metre or above the highest damp mark.
- Drilling and injecting the DPC, or removing bridging.
- A drying period before replastering.
- Replastering with a salt-resistant mix, refitting skirtings and painting once the plaster has cured.
Rising Damp Treatment Prices in Cape Town
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Damp assessment, per property | R800 - R2,500 |
| Chemical DPC injection only, per linear metre | R350 - R750 |
| Injection, hack-off and replaster, per linear metre | R450 - R1,600 |
| One room, fully treated | R6,000 - R15,000 |
| Older home, several walls | R15,000 - R40,000 |
Ballpark figures, not quotations. Indicative 2026 ranges, rounded, from published South African damp-proofing, waterproofing and plastering price guides (Cape Town and Western Cape guides where available, national and Gauteng guides otherwise), checked October 2026. Per-metre prices are per linear metre of wall unless stated. Some include VAT and some do not, so confirm VAT on every quote. A site assessment and a written quote set the actual price.
What changes the price
- Length of affected wall, inside and outside.
- Wall thickness and type: double brick, cavity wall or stone.
- How high the plaster has to come off.
- Access, built-in cupboards and kitchen units against the wall.
- Whether skirtings, painting and rubble removal are included.
Getting Rising Damp Quotes
Say where the marks are, how high they reach and whether they change after rain. Add photos. Compare quotes through Damp Proofing Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do walls take to dry after treatment?
Usually several months. Thicker walls take longer, so contractors often advise waiting before final painting.
Can I just paint over rising damp?
No. Paint traps the moisture and salts keep pushing through. The cause has to be treated first.
Is rising damp common in Cape Town?
It is common in older homes without an effective DPC, and where paving or garden beds bridge the DPC.
Does all the plaster need to come off?
Only the contaminated plaster, usually the lower metre or so. Salts in old plaster keep drawing moisture even after the DPC is fixed.
Do contractors guarantee rising damp treatment?
Many offer a written guarantee. Ask what it covers and whether it depends on them doing the replastering too.
Related Pages
Damp Proofing Cape Town is a free quote-comparison service. Damp is inspected, quoted and repaired by independent damp proofing contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Ask each one for a written, itemised quote, what is and is not included, guarantee terms and payment terms before paying anything.
Rising Damp Treatment Cape Town. Describe the damp once and compare rising damp treatment quotes.
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