Prices & advice for damp proofing walls
What is a damp proof course?
A damp proof course (DPC) is an impermeable barrier that usually sits horizontally at about half a foot above ground level. The barrier could be a plastic sheet, bitumen or slate. It’s purpose is to prevent water from rising up the masonry and onto the internal walls through capillary action. Damp proofing treatments after the initial build of the house are usually either chemical or electrical in nature. All modern houses in the UK are built with a damp proof course, older houses may never have had one installed or one that’s failed. Any modification to a house with an injection damp proof course, waterproofing or tanking should come with a guarantee, at least 10 years is preferable.
How to resolve damp issues
It should be noted that a injection damp proof course and/or tanking is not always the best course of action, despite what the salesman may tell you. Period properties for example have managed moisture for centuries with often no problems, damp can start occur when introducing modern building methods into older properties and may take years to become apparent. Cement rendering/plastering and blocking any ventilation are common issues found in problematic buildings, older properties need to breathe and release moisture within the walls. With this in mind there are a few things you should check before proceeding with a DPC:
- Check and fix any leaking gutters or downpipes, these can be a major cause of penetrating damp in walls.
- Are there any external floor levels such as concrete paving that have been built higher than the internal floor level? If there are then cut them back, dig a French drain and stop any water run off transferring straight into the walls.
- Has any external cement rendering been applied to the lower parts of the walls? This will trap moisture, the walls on older properties should be allowed to breathe so remove if possible, lime render is a breathable alternative.
- Under the floor boards needs a lot of ventilation, ensure any external vents aren’t blocked.
- Internally any plastering should ideally be applied using lime plaster rather then gypsum, lime allows the walls to breathe and naturally releases moisture trapped in walls.
If none of the above apply or are simply not practical then a damp proof course may resolve the issue, but prevention is always better than a cure so check first with an independent damp proofing specialist what the best course of action is.
User submitted DPC prices
| Job type | Description | Price | Units | Region | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proofing to a average 3 bedroom terrace house not inc skirtings | £4000 | Total price | North East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Old plaster removed, injected, sbr coated rendered and skimmed | £160 | Per m² | South East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proofing of front side wall from side chimmney + under front bay window + front door wall area up to near start of stairs. | £799 | Total price | North West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | take off skirting boards to effected walls drill and inject dpc membrane and replace skirting board plaster were required | £425 | Total price | North East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Semi property, damp proofing done to front bay window area including round the front corner of property near the stairs area. | £836 | Total price | North East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Hack off 150m sand cement , tank and re render (sika ) take out 100m screed ,break out concrete floor 10in from walls lay lap joint ,lay new plastic membrane rescreed floor reskim walls full height 300 metres reskim ceilings 60 metres, knock thru wall add new lintel, DPC damp course, labour and materials. | £19000 | Total price | London | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proof rear walls of Victorian terrace including kitchen extension, 12 linear metres. Includes hacking off and replastering, plus 2 linear metre French drain and 2 new airbricks. | £1900 | Total price | South East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | hack of up to 1.2 mtrs put in new dampcourse all round also vertical barriers where needed rendered and replastered areas where needed | £3600 | Total price | South West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Hack plaster off walls, rake out joints, 2 coat with salt neutralizer. SBR and cement slurry walls twice. 3,1 sand and cement render two coats at 10mm. Then tank the whole lot 2 coats. Then either dot and dab thermaline super-board board on top, or float out 2 coats of lime light plaster followed by 2 coats of limelight finishing plaster. All inc plus materials | £190 | Per m² | London | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | strip all plaster of all walls 1 metre high in a terrace house, drill inject and replaster and removal of rubbish. | £2937 | Total price | North East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | damp control to 3 bedroom house | £2275 | Total price | South East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proofing on one length of a mid terrace house and internal wall between living room and dining room. | £515 | Total price | South West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Inject chemical DPC, replaster and apply timber coating to 9 linear meters | £1900 | Total price | North West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proof 2 bed terrace and single story rear extension. Drill & inject only. | £990 | Total price | North West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proofing to 2 large rooms and hall way, stripped off plaster up to 1.2m, injected and re-plastered half way up wall. | £6200 | Total price | South East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proofing by hacking of area of plaster in Lounge, kitchen & bathroom. Inserted new chemical damp proof, and then replastered. Fitted 6 new air bricks around the building outside. Break front concreate section, which was above floor level. Timber treatment of all 3 bed house and roof. 30 year insurance backed guarantee provided for damp proofing and timber treatment. | £3565 | Total price | South East | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Rising damp treatment for a 3 bedroom terrace house | £2325 | Total price | South West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proof injection on all external sides of 2 bed end terrace. Replastered affected walls inside. | £1900 | Total price | North West | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Damp proofing of a mid-terraced house | £4800 | Total price | Northern Ireland | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | inject damp proof course on party wall (5m) + hack off + replaster | £2000 | Total price | West Midlands | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Remow old render and plaster, drill and inject with chemical damp course, re plaster and remove rubble from site. | £3200 | Total price | East of England | 2023 |
| Rising & penetrating damp | Digging out bay window (2mx3m) injecting fluid into wall, installing 2 air bricks | £670 | Total price | South West | 2023 |