Damp On Walls - I Need A Permanent Solution! - By: David Sutcliffe

What Can I Do? The damp on walls of my home keeps recurring in spite of my countless efforts

Dampness of walls is a process that will keep coming back if you do not deal it seriously. Dampness can continue to be a recurring and time consuming problems.

We should diagnose the main cause of the damp on walls, and accordingly plan our action. One method of treating damp wall is by applying paint or product for tanking damp walls. This method of damp proofing walls is suitable if problem is in basement or high external ground level. If you are totally below ground level then professional advice should be sought, to avoid complications in addition to constant blistering of paint damp proofing wall situation. In a situation like a damp basement or damp cellar, a full waterproofing system might be the best solution, and this would have to be designed by a damp proofing specialist.

To install the treatment for damp on walls one need to diagnose the various problems of damp walls.

Q While looking outside, are your gutters filled with leaves and is water frequently dripping down your brickwork?
You'll find a white colored powder caked on the bricks. You'll see it inside and plaster will come out. This means the gutters need to be cleared of all debris, and checked so that no water is leaking.

Q. Is your external pipe work and traps clear of debris?
Even the smallest of debris in your drainage can be a source of problem. So it is very important to keep the drainage free from any kind of debris.

Q. Are you having issues with your toilet or your boiler overflowing and pusing excess water out so it runs down the walls and makes a mess?
A. It could be seen on properties which are not being looked after and could often be the reason of damp on walls at high levels internally. In high rise buildings with an active overflowing pipe you can visualise the damp externally before entering the building. Stop the discharge and you could stop the problem effectively. You won't have a damp proof wall situation here any more so just a cut back damage and replaster and redecorate.

While talking about various ground levels one should make sure that there is no earth near the lower end of the wall as it may bridge the dpc damp proof course. You should remove all earth matter through digging to make your walls free. Because of their natural tendency, damp cellars pose a peculiar problem of damp on walls. In such cases, digging the earth out is not practicable and we have to look for an internal technique. In damp cellars, the root cause is the seepage of the ground water and not just damp on walls. Hence the damp tanking and damp injection processes are not the correct solutions. We can appreciate that a problem due to a wet situation cannot be solved through introduction of a wet product. In such cases, a dry dimpled damp proofing membrane sheet is a much better solution that can result in saving time and money.

The moisture that penetrates into the structure of the building is called 'penetrating damp'. This happens because of gutters, drains, pipes, leaking roofs and cracks rendering into a sealed door and window frames, due to bad porous stone and brick work. Penetrating damp can occur by soil on the other side of the wall.

There are various techniques are available to solve the problem of rising and penetrating damp in the structure. DIY damp course products are available as creams. Just we have to inject a damp proof layer into the mortar course of the 150 mm brickwork above the external ground level. This can be sustitute for a failed damp proof course if the property didn't have on the first instance. This technique if applied properly, can solve with rising dampness tracking up through what is called capillary action from the ground - a major cause of damp on walls.

Regular diagnosis of the causes of dampness in buildings have led to the recommendation of dimpled damp proofing membranes in almost all the cases. These systems allow application of a direct finish in the interior and exterior parts where damp on walls is a problem. They also facilitate breathing and dry out of the property. The walls can be easily dried out through the finishes on the membrane allowed by the isolation/air void created. Because of this, the dampness is strictly prevented from entering the front of the membrane. Due to the complete layer formed externally, driving or penetrating rains are not allowed to seep through. As an additional point, also note that it can also substitute a damp proof course.

Thus damp proof membranes in most cases would be a good solution for dealing with damp on walls.

About the Author

David Sutcliffe is an independent consultant specialising in the diagnosis of damp and rising damp treatment in all buildings across the construction spectrum from historic and listed buildings to new build, commercial and domestic structures. David has over 30 years of hands on experience in treating damp on walls

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/David-Sutcliffe/66382

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