If you're trying to eliminar humedad por capilaridad, you probably already know that those peeling paint patches near the floor aren't just an eyesore—they're a sign that your house is literally "drinking" water from the ground. It's a frustrating problem because you can't just paint over it and hope it goes away. Trust me, I've seen enough bubbled plaster to know that the water always wins unless you actually stop it at the source.
Rising damp, or capilaridad, happens because building materials like brick and stone act like a giant sponge. They have tiny pores that pull moisture up from the soil against the force of gravity. If your home's original damp-proof course has failed—or if it never had one to begin with—that moisture climbs up the walls, bringing salts and minerals with it. Let's get into how you can actually fix this without losing your mind.
How to tell if it's actually rising damp
Before you spend a dime trying to eliminar humedad por capilaridad, you need to be 100% sure that's what you're dealing with. Sometimes, it's just condensation or a leaky pipe, and those require totally different fixes.
The most obvious sign of rising damp is a "tide mark" on the wall. This is a horizontal line of staining that usually doesn't go higher than a meter (about three feet) above the floor. You'll also notice salitre, which looks like white, fluffy crystals on the surface. That's just the salt from the ground drying out. If your wallpaper is peeling from the bottom up or your skirting boards are starting to rot, you've almost certainly got a capillarity issue on your hands.
The most effective ways to stop the water
There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution here, but there are a few heavy hitters that professionals use to eliminar humedad por capilaridad effectively. Depending on your budget and how much of a mess you're willing to tolerate, one of these will likely be your best bet.
Chemical injections (The go-to method)
This is probably the most common way people tackle the problem. Basically, a pro (or a very brave DIYer) drills a series of holes into the mortar joint near the base of the wall and injects a water-repellent cream or liquid.
Once this stuff gets inside the wall, it spreads out and creates a waterproof barrier. It effectively plugs the "tubes" that the water is using to climb up. It's relatively quick, and while it involves some drilling, it's not as invasive as some other methods. Just keep in mind that you'll usually have to strip the old, salt-contaminated plaster away first, or the damp will just keep showing through.
Wireless electro-osmosis
This sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it's actually pretty clever. Water molecules have a natural polarity—they have a positive and a negative side. Electro-osmosis uses a small electronic device to emit a low-frequency electromagnetic field that reverses the polarity of the water in the wall.
Instead of being pulled up, the water is pushed back down into the ground. The best part? There's no construction work. No drilling, no dust, no knocking down walls. It's a great option for historic buildings or if you just don't want to turn your living room into a construction zone for two weeks.
Physical barriers
This is the "old school" way to eliminar humedad por capilaridad. It involves literally cutting a slit through the entire thickness of the wall and sliding in a new damp-proof membrane (like heavy-duty plastic or lead).
It is, quite frankly, a massive job. It's expensive, it's structurally risky if not done right, and it's incredibly messy. However, it's also the most permanent fix you can get. If the wall is physically blocked by a sheet of plastic, the water simply cannot get through. Most people avoid this nowadays because chemical injections are so much easier, but it's still an option for extreme cases.
Why you can't just "paint over it"
I can't stress this enough: using "anti-damp" paint on a wall with rising damp is like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. It might look okay for a few months, but the pressure of the water and the salts behind the paint will eventually cause it to bubble and flake off. Even worse, by sealing the surface, you're often forcing the water to climb even higher up the wall to find a way out.
If you want to eliminar humedad por capilaridad, you have to treat the source. Once the source is blocked, then—and only then—can you think about the cosmetics. Even then, you need to use breathable materials. Standard gypsum plaster or vinyl paints act like a plastic wrap that traps moisture. Use lime-based mortars or silicate paints instead; they let the wall "breathe" so any residual moisture can evaporate naturally.
The role of salts and why they ruin everything
The water itself is annoying, but the salts (nitrates and chlorides) are the real villains. As the water evaporates from your wall, it leaves these salts behind. These salts are "hygroscopic," which is just a fancy way of saying they love water. Even if you stop the rising damp, those salts will sit in your plaster and suck moisture straight out of the air on a humid day.
This is why, when you're working to eliminar humedad por capilaridad, you usually have to hack off the old plaster. If you leave the salt-infested plaster on the wall, it will always look damp, even if the wall underneath is bone dry. It's a pain, I know, but skipping this step is the number one reason why damp treatments "fail."
Can you do it yourself?
If you're handy with a drill and have some patience, you can definitely try the chemical injection route yourself. There are plenty of kits available at hardware stores. However, you've got to be meticulous. If you miss a spot or don't drill deep enough, the water will find the gap.
For electro-osmosis or physical barriers, I'd definitely hire a professional. You don't want to be messing with the structural integrity of your house or installing high-tech gadgets without knowing exactly how they interact with your specific wall type.
Wrapping things up
Trying to eliminar humedad por capilaridad isn't exactly a fun weekend project, but it's one of those things that only gets more expensive the longer you wait. Left unchecked, it can lead to dry rot in your floor joists, ruin your furniture, and even cause respiratory issues because of the mold that inevitably follows the damp.
Start by getting a proper diagnosis. Once you know for sure it's rising damp, pick the method that fits your house and your budget. Whether you go for the high-tech electro-osmosis or the tried-and-true chemical injections, the goal is the same: cut off the water's path. Your house (and your nose) will definitely thank you for it in the long run. Don't let the ground win—take your walls back!