Soil conditions and the occurrence of salt damp in buildings of metropolitan Adelaide

Summary

Widespread evidence of salt damage to brick, stone, and concrete buildings in Adelaide is associated with the salinity of the underlying soils, the lack of damp‐proof courses in old buildings or their failure in others, and the location of the buildings in situations prone to collection of water in subsoils. Salt damp is described, and distinguished from rising damp. Its occurrence is related to natural features and urban development. Extension of housing areas to low‐lying saline parts of the metropolitan area would present some risk of salt damp.