Rising damp refers to water present in the ground that gradually rises into walls through porous materials (stone, brick, concrete block). It generally appears at the base of walls, both indoors and outdoors, and follows a “bottom-to-top” pattern.

The most common signs are continuous tide marks near skirting boards, crumbling plaster, blistering paint, peeling wall coverings, and whitish deposits (salts/minerals) visible on the surface. Damp is often more pronounced on the ground floor and can make the wall feel cold, look uneven, or appear “water-laden.” The marks are often fairly regular and spread to a limited height, with a gradual progression.

This page helps you identify the typical indicators of rising damp and avoid confusion: a water ingress more often creates a localized stain or streaking, while condensation tends to form on the surface in cold areas (corners, windows, behind furniture). The goal is to understand what this type of damp looks like and why it occurs, so you can classify the situation correctly.