Rising damp in masonry columns

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Rising Damp in Masonry Column Structural

Text in the illustration

floor joist
bearing beam
masonry column
concrete floor slab
when the soil below the floor slab is wet, water can be wicked up by the masonry
eventually, the brick or mortar can be weakened
check for efflorescence and deterioration around the base of masonry columns that can indicate the presence of rising damp
water level
water rising by capillary action into column bricks

Generated explanation

The illustration shows a brick masonry column supporting a bearing beam beneath a floor joist. The column extends through a concrete floor slab into wet soil below, with the water level marked near the slab. Large upward arrows show water rising into the column bricks by capillary action. Annotations explain that this moisture can weaken the brick or mortar and advise checking for efflorescence and deterioration around the column base.