Abstract
Buildings represent significant investment of developers and, as such, it is important to ensure value for the capital injected into the construction of buildings. Unfortunately, due to neglect of proper construction practices, buildings are facing defects, and one of such defects is rising damp. This study sought to identify some of the construction practices contributing to rising damp in buildings and their effects and suggest some remedial measures for controlling and treatment of rising damps. Snowball sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to gather data from a cross section of 78 building environment professionals in Kumasi and Ejisu who have experienced the effects of moisture rise. Relative Importance Index was used to rank the significance of the causes. The study revealed that failure to use damp-proof membrane or course, presence of groundwater, porosity of masonry, and concrete element sand flooding were the main causes of rising damp. Undersetting and saw slotting, making good plumbing leakages, using approved waterproof chemical injection, and application of admixtures were the main measures recommended to avert rising damp.
Highlights
Buildings have been facing the phenomenon of rising damp [1]
The presence of groundwater is a common source for moisture rise contributing to rising damp in the masonry walls
This study investigates the causes, effects, and some construction practices contributing to rising damp in Journal of Construction Engineering
Summary
Buildings have been facing the phenomenon of rising damp [1]. Rising damp is the upward movement of moisture through permeable materials by capillary action [2]. Water rises through the pores in the masonry via a process called capillarity. The capillaries draw water from the soils beneath a building against the force of gravity, leading to damp zones at the base of walls [4, 5]. Large temperature changes and increasing rates of evaporation trigger more upward, water movement in walls, resulting in the process called salt crystallization [6]. The presence of groundwater is a common source for moisture rise contributing to rising damp in the masonry walls. According to Charola [8], groundwater contains sulphates, chlorides, and nitrates, which are hygroscopic The presence of these chemicals in large volumes result in visual signs of dampness and tidal marks on walls. 0.05–0.20 0.15–0.30 buildings in Ghana and recommends some remedial measures with Kumasi and Ejisu as case study
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