Do You Need a New DPC or Just Salt Inhibitor? – Stoke-on-Trent Homes

Do You Really Need a New DPC? Or Just a Salt-Inhibiting Plaster?

If you've been told you need a new damp proof course (DPC) in your Stoke-on-Trent home, it’s worth double-checking. Many older properties here have salt-contaminated plaster, not live rising damp — and that can make walls look damp even if they’re not wet.

At Weather Wise, we specialise in telling the difference — and making sure you don’t pay for work you don’t need.

What Salt Does to Your Walls

When damp has affected a wall in the past, it often leaves behind salts (like nitrates and chlorides) that rise through the masonry and get locked into the plaster. These salts are hygroscopic, meaning they draw moisture from the air and keep your walls looking damp.

Common signs:

Paint flaking or bubbling
Plaster feels dry but looks damp
No obvious source of water ingress
Mould appearing in previously treated areas

This is very common in Stoke’s terrace houses and older semis, especially where plaster hasn’t been removed after a previous DPC install.

When a New DPC Is the Right Call

A new damp proof course is recommended when:

Moisture readings are high in the wall itself (not just the plaster)
There’s no existing DPC or it's been bridged
There’s evidence of rising salts (nitrates/chlorides)
External ground levels are above the DPC line
Cavity walls are filled with debris or insulation holding water

We only use silicone-based injection, with proper bridging checks and salt-inhibiting plasterwork after.

When a Salt-Inhibiting Plaster is Enough

In many cases, the wall is no longer damp — but the plaster remains contaminated. This causes surface dampness without active rising damp.

If this is the case, we’ll:

Remove the damaged plaster
Apply a breathable salt-inhibiting basecoat
Finish with a suitable skim or breathable decorative surface
Advise on ventilation and heating to prevent recurrence

This avoids unnecessary drilling, mess, and cost — and gives a clean, dry finish ready for decorating.

Why Stoke-on-Trent Homes Are Prone to Salt Damage

We see this all the time in:

Hanley, Fenton, Longton, Tunstall, Burslem and other solid-wall homes
Properties with high ground levels or poor drainage
Homes with cement render that traps moisture
Areas with blocked cavities or previous failed injections

What Weather Wise Does Differently

Our Level 3 trained team will:
✅ Check moisture at depth and surface
✅ Test for salt types to rule out active rising damp
✅ Inspect DPC bridging internally and externally
✅ Recommend only what’s needed — no overselling