Rising Damp Treatment Sydney – Stop Moisture Before It Damages Your Home
Restore Stability. Stop Damage. Protect Your Home.
Rising damp is one of the most common and misunderstood structural issues affecting Sydney homes. If you’re seeing peeling paint, stained walls, or musty smells near the base of your walls, your home may be absorbing water from the ground up. Left untreated, rising damp can damage your home’s structure, your health, and its value.
Understanding Rising Damp and Why It Happens
Rising damp occurs when water from the ground moves up through porous building materials such as brick, mortar, and plaster. In Sydney, it’s common in older homes that were built without modern damp-proof courses (DPCs), or where those systems have deteriorated over time.
Moisture rises through capillary action—much like a sponge—bringing with it salts and minerals that leave visible marks and damage internal surfaces. Without proper damp-proofing, this can result in serious degradation of walls, flooring, and structural timber.
House Levelling in Sydney
Backed by decades of hands-on experience, we’ve relevelled homes across the Greater Sydney region—from weatherboard cottages in the Inner West to modern slab-on-ground builds in the Hills District. Whether it’s a small adjustment or a full structural correction, our expert team is here to get your home back on solid ground.
Understanding Rising Damp and Why It Happens
Rising damp occurs when water from the ground moves up through porous building materials such as brick, mortar, and plaster. In Sydney, it’s common in older homes that were built without modern damp-proof courses (DPCs), or where those systems have deteriorated over time.
Moisture rises through capillary action—much like a sponge—bringing with it salts and minerals that leave visible marks and damage internal surfaces. Without proper damp-proofing, this can result in serious degradation of walls, flooring, and structural timber.
Your Structural & Foundation Repair Specialists
We’re proud members of the Master Builders Association of NSW, HIA, QBE.
Our friendly team is here to give you honest advice, fast service, and long-term results.
Signs You May Have Rising Damp in Your Home
Not sure if what you’re seeing is rising damp?
Here are some telltale signs:
- Flaking or bubbling paint along lower walls
- Salt marks or tide lines up to a metre high
- A musty smell, especially after rain
- Wet, crumbly or blistered plaster
- Rotting skirting boards or discoloured floorboards
- Cold or damp patches near the base of walls
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, the sooner you act, the better. Rising damp rarely goes away on its own and often signals deeper issues beneath the surface.
House Relevelling Specialists
Old or damaged timber stumps can shift over time, causing floors to dip and frames to twist. We remove failing stumps and install strong, modern replacements—ensuring your home is safely supported and structurally sound for decades to come.
Re-Stumping
When foundations are no longer strong enough to support your home, underpinning adds the reinforcement needed to stabilise and secure your property. We use engineered solutions to extend your footing into stable soil and stop further movement.
Underpinning
For lighter structures or concrete slabs, resin injection is a fast, non-invasive way to stabilise sunken ground. This method lifts and strengthens foundations by injecting an expanding resin that fills gaps under the home—ideal for driveways, patios, and parts of the house affected by soft or shifting soil.
Resin Injection
Foundation Repair Services
We inspect, repair, and upgrade the beams, bearers, and joists under your home to make sure everything’s structurally sound. If you’ve noticed bouncy or noisy floors, it might be time to look beneath the surface.
Sub-Floor Works
Ventilation
Moisture trapped under your home can lead to mould, timber decay, and structural problems. We install smart sub-floor ventilation systems that keep air moving and dampness out—helping protect your investment.
Rising damp occurs when water from the ground moves up through porous building materials such as brick, mortar, and plaster. In Sydney, it’s common in older homes that were built without modern damp-proof courses (DPCs), or where those systems have deteriorated over time.
Rising Damp Treatment
The Long-Term Risks of Ignoring Rising Damp
Unchecked rising damp isn’t just an eyesore—it leads to real, costly damage. Moisture inside walls can weaken structural timber, corrode steel ties, and cause floors to buckle. Over time, it affects insulation, contributes to mould growth, and even impacts the health of your family—especially those with allergies or respiratory conditions.
Investing in proper damp treatment now can save thousands in future repairs, while protecting your home’s value and comfort.
Why Rising Damp Is Common in Sydney Homes
Many older Sydney properties—particularly those in areas like Inner West, Parramatta, Ryde, and Hills District—were built using brick or sandstone, and often without effective damp-proofing. Combine this with Sydney’s seasonal rainfall, clay soils, and ageing plumbing, and you have the perfect recipe for moisture ingress.
In some homes, rising damp is made worse by other factors such as:
- Poor drainage or stormwater overflow
- Blocked or damaged weep holes
- Inadequate sub-floor airflow
- Cracked foundations or footings
That’s why we often recommend pairing rising damp treatment with services like sub-floor ventilation, foundation assessments, or drainage improvements to tackle the problem holistically.
Testimonials
What our customers have to say about us?
Anthony was super responsive and made himself available to answer any questions I had before proceeding and after the works were completed.
Also his team were super friendly and professional to deal with. The team did a job well done for additional pier installation revelling and ventilation installation. Highly recommend.
Rang Anthony after reading previous good reviews to look at some early damage and old piers. The team on site were great, on time, polite, cleaned up, took photos and were happy to show progress and talk me through their work. The outcome was better than expected and they fixed more problems than we realised were there. No more creaky floors! Fixed price. No surprises. Highly recommend them.
What Our Customers Have To Say
Our Process
Simple. Straightforward. Stress-Free.
From first call to final fix, here’s our general process.
Get in touch and we’ll book a convenient time to inspect your property. We’ll confirm everything you need to know before we arrive.
Step 1: Schedule On-Site Meeting
Step 2: Get a Detailed Assessment
We carry out a thorough inspection and provide a clear report with a fixed-price quote—no surprises, just expert advice.
Once approved, we lock in your job, organise materials, and handle any permits or prep. You’ll get full job details upfront.
Step 3: Schedule the Work
Our experienced team completes the work to the highest standard. After a final walkthrough, we leave you with a clean site and a written warranty.
Step 4: Job Done – With Warranty
FAQs – Rising Damp Sydney
What’s the difference between rising damp and condensation?
Rising damp moves upward from the ground, while condensation forms from inside moisture (like steam). Rising damp usually shows up along the lower walls and often includes salt deposits or tide marks.
Is rising damp harmful to health?
Yes. Damp environments can contribute to respiratory issues, mould growth, and dust mites—all of which affect indoor air quality.
How long does the treatment process take?
Most jobs are completed in 1–2 days, depending on the extent of the damage and drying time. Surface restoration (like plastering) may take longer.
Will a dehumidifier fix the issue?
No. Dehumidifiers only manage symptoms. Without a proper damp-proof barrier, moisture will continue to rise and cause damage.
Can rising damp be linked to foundation issues?
Absolutely. Cracked footings, poor drainage, or failed stumps can contribute to moisture entering your walls. We often recommend a foundation assessment for peace of mind.
Ready to Relevel Your Home?
If you're seeing signs of damp around the base of your walls, don’t wait for it to spread.
Contact Sydney House Levelling today for a full site inspection and tailored rising damp treatment plan. We’ll stop the moisture at the source—and help restore your home’s health from the inside out.