Damp proofing can be a complicated and expensive process. Our damp proofing solutions make it affordable. Our damp proofing solutions are very affordable and we use products from Plascon, Sika and ABE. We have been in the business for 28 years and have seen every type of moisture problem. From rising dampness to dampness through a shower to underground streams.
Why is damp proofing important
To keep a building strong and sturdy for a long period of time, it is important to minimize or prevent moisture from entering the building through roofs, floors, walls, or other surfaces. The presence of moisture within a structure is known as dampness. Dampness can cause structural damage, weakening and unhygienic conditions. The damp proof course, also known as damp protection, is essential in building construction and design. The main method of reducing dampness in a structure is through damp-proofing or DPC. This prevents moisture from entering the structure.
DAMP PROOFING SOLUTION
Damp proofing Your Home 101
Damp proofing can be complicated and should only be left to professionals. Here are some tips to get rid of damp in your house. It is important to find a Waterproofing Federation of South Africa-affiliated expert. It’s better to address the root cause than just make temporary repairs to damp. It is always a good idea to damp proof your home.
The basics
A damp proof course (DPC), is a physical barrier that is embedded into the fabric of a building in order to prevent water from passing from one area to another. It can be horizontally placed to prevent water from rising from the ground and being absorbed by dry masonry. Or vertically installed to stop water from passing from the outside to the interior of the building. A waterproof plastic sheet is the most commonly used material.
Water leaking into your home can not only make it look unattractive, and it can also pose a risk to your health. Common causes include leaking roofs, unsealed balconies, and rising damp. Repair damaged tiles and seal your roof tiles. Seal your shower walls and ensure proper drainage.
Flaking, blistering or white salts on your walls could be a sign of rising damp.
Where is the Damp?
Vertical damp can cause damp problems in areas where the ground is higher that the interior floor or exterior walls where soil retention is an issue. Water seepage through grout or condensation can cause damp in showers and baths. Split-level construction, where the vertical damp course is not included, is a common way for builders to save time. Also, damp can be found in plastered plinths or flower boxes.
Tanking can be used to treat lateral damp. To prevent damp penetration, tanking involves removing the plaster from the bricks and applying a cement sealant. The area will be plastered with damp repellent cement and a silicone injection. This is done to stop rising damp.
It is possible to waterproof your home if a DPC wasn’t installed at the time of construction.
Contact an expert immediately if you suspect that your home is damp. Your home’s value will rise if it is waterproofed. Waterproofing will prevent future problems from arising from unsightly damp issues.
Nobody wants to be in the rain. You can make sure this doesn’t happen by selecting qualified suppliers who can assist with general moisture control, waterproofing and repairs.
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How to Treat Rising Damp
One of the most common concerns we hear from clients is their fear of rising damp, and more importantly, their hesitations about how to handle it. Let’s not get into the details of how to deal with it. Instead, let us start by understanding if you have it.
This article will explain how to identify damp rising in your house or business. It also explains how it differs from other dampness-related problems. We’ll also dispel some common myths. We’ll also discuss how to address this problem.
What is Rising Damp?
This is a rare type of dampness that affects walls of buildings such as condos and flats. It occurs when enough moisture is present to seep through the ground. The water then travels through the walls via what we call ‘capillary action’ in physics. In most cases, groundwater is being sucked into bricks through small tubes-like structures. It is almost like having a series or straws. Most of the water is made up of salts, which travel along with the water through walls. Rising damp can affect any structure.
There will be porous materials such as plasterwork and timber near the wall. There will be joists and floorboards near the wall. Because they absorb groundwater, the materials conduct rising dampness. You can usually identify this by looking for timber rot.
Rising dampness can be first diagnosed by inspecting the structure’s internal walls. The most obvious sign of rising dampness is the visible peeling paint and plaster. The wallpaper will also start to peel. A visible stain on the wall will eventually appear that looks like a tide mark. This is typically how much groundwater has reached. Stop the rising damp from going any further.
How to Damp Proof and Signs you may be dealing with rising damp
The rising damp problem, as mentioned previously, is a rare type of dampness and can only be treated if properly diagnosed. We strongly recommend that you have a professional diagnosis done by a qualified and certified surveyor. The diagnosis usually involves an analysis of salts.
It can be difficult to tell rising damp from other forms of dampness, such as penetrating damp or condensation, if you don’t have the necessary experience.
You can inspect your home and look for signs of rising damp as a homeowner.
Salts leave behind tide marks
Peeling wallpaper, blistering paint and staining of wall coverings.
There are many types and sizes to choose from when the walls feel damp. You will need to check if brickwork and masonry are damp and not just wet plaster and damp wallpaper.
It has a musty smell.
Fragmented plaster and discoloration
Degrading wood or timber, such as floor joists and skirting boards.
Rising damp can pose a serious problem depending on the age of your structure and where you live. You should use DPC chemicals on your home, but also high-quality mold and dampproof paint. This prevents or retards growth of fungus in the home and reduces discoloration.
Paints won’t prevent rising damp from happening, but they can reduce its effects on your property. Paints can be protected against fungal decay for as long as 5 years. It can also be used in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and other areas. It is also well-suited for commercial use due to its satin finish, which is resistant to rubbing.
A professional company should be called in at the first sign that there is any suspicion. A professional can diagnose the problem and make sure it doesn’t bother you again, whether you are buying a house with rising damp or already have one.
Damp proofing can be done in many ways, including:
A damp proof course is a barrier that runs through the structure and prevents moisture from rising through capillary action, also known as rising damp. Rising damp refers to the phenomenon of water escaping from the ground and entering property. The damp proof course can be either horizontal or vertical. A DPC layer is typically laid beneath all masonry walls regardless of whether they are load bearing or partition walls.
A damp proof membrane (DPM), is a membrane material that prevents moisture transmission. Polyethylene sheeting is used to protect concrete from moisture transmission by laying it under concrete slabs. The DPC may also be performed with a DPM.
Concrete integral damp proofing involves adding materials to concrete to make concrete impermeable.
A thin coating of water-proof materials is applied to for resistance against non-pressurized moisture, such as rain water. [3]
Cavity wall construction is a method of separating the interior walls from the exterior walls. This is also known as rainscreen construction.
Pressure grouting Cracks and joints in masonry materials.
These materials are widely used in dampproofing:
Flexible materials such as butyl rubber and hot bitumen, hot bitumen sheets, plastic sheets, bituminous feels sheets of lead, copper, and others.
Semi-rigid materials like mastic asphalt
Rigid materials such as impervious bricks and stones, slates or cement mortar, or cement concrete with bitumen painted with bitumen.
Stones
Mortar with waterproofing agents
Under floors, add coarse sand layers
Floors with continuous plastic sheets
