Why is Dry base one of the best damp proofing solutions?
Posted by Sachit Patel on June 09, 2011 (0 Comments)
Rising damp is one of those issues that trouble the majority of house owners and that seem insignificant when they first appear and then turn into one of the biggest issues you can have with your residence. Rising damp becomes a problem if the ground moisture is able to penetrate the walls and floor, spreading capillary and getting both to the outside and the inside surfaces. This is best prevented with a proper damp proof course, but since it deteriorates over time and it can also be bridged due to such circumstances like raising of the ground levels, it is important to have something to fall back to in case this happens.
One such failsafe solution is Dry base, a damp proof membrane which is applied as a liquid. One of its most important characteristics is that it does not contain any bitumen which is often use for the same purpose and which has that specific smell that is an issue for most users. Instead of that, dry base is based on different polymers that are blended into this fantastic solution that not only prevents the damp from affecting the interior surfaces, but also holds other properties that make it much more than just another damp proofing solution.
The most important property is that it also acts as a gas barrier, holding back such gases like methane, carbon dioxide and radon. It is also very easy to apply and it dries very quickly, usually in under an hour.
Damp proof chemical course
Posted by Sachit Patel on May 05, 2011 (0 Comments)
damp proof chemical courses have become a very popular treatment lately, because they do a great job of keeping away all moisture from your home or business. There are a couple of different methods that you can use. One of the most popular ones is the electro osmosis method, which is cleaner and a bit easier. However, that does not mean that it is easy, just easier than some of the other options out there. So if you are not ready to put a lot of time into the project, it is probably better to hire a professional to work on it, because this process is not at all easy.
What essentially happens is that a waterproofing chemical is injected into the structure. Usually this means that the chemical is injected into the bricks that your home was built with. The chemical that is injected is usually silicone. Since the bricks are structures that have pores themselves and have been known to soak up moisture, they soak up the chemicals that were injected as well. This means that once the chemicals have been soaked up by the bricks it will make them waterproof.
This project is not easy, but it is a great long-term plan for keeping your house dry. Once the project is completed, you won't have to worry any longer about water permeating your home through the brick walls, because the chemicals that were injected will be working and making sure that no water comes in for a very long while.
The big manufacturers of damp proofing chemicals
If you are looking to get some damp proofing chemicals, then there are two main places you should probably look. There are many different companies that produce chemicals for these purposes, but from my experience with these chemicals – and I do have a lot of experience – I'd say that there are two companies that stand above the rest. The first is Damp proof cream. These guys have been in the business for over three decades and they are probably the best products to buy online. Any time of waterproofing product you need, in general, they will probably have what you are looking for. Whether it is above ground or below ground waterproofing, or course treatments, all the chemicals you will need for such a job can be found here. However, I'd say that the best and most influential damp proofing chemical producer, especially in the UK, is without a doubt the Damp proof chemical producers Group. This company was founded all the way back in 1934 and has been making quality products to protect your home from the elements for almost 80 years.
They have many different products and probably make the best damp proofing chemicals that are available on the continent. This is probably the first place you should check out because not only do they have the most experience, they also have great prices and services. Many people who I have talked to swear by their products, especially their damp proofing chemicals. Check it out for yourself – it's hard not to agree.
How damp proofing creams are made
There are many different ways to make damp proofing creams , but I really would not recommend making it on your own. For one, it's not really worth it financially, and it also takes a lot of time and effort. There are also many companies that make great creams, so there is no reason to try and make your own. It will not save you money or time, that's for sure. Usually, these creams are made with thickening substances that will make the cream stiffer so that no water can get in. Before the creating of this cream, damp proofing was a lot harder. First a damp proof course would need to be installed, after which everything in the home would probably have to be re-plastered.
Thanks to the cream, this process is no longer necessary and the job gets done a lot easier and in a much more cost and time effective manner. This is used much like damp proofing chemicals, in the sense that the cream is also injected. Usually it will be injected in a mortar joint between two courses, which gives the foundation a whole layer of extra protection.
Using creams is also cost effective. There are also hardly any hazards or dangers that come with using the cream, unlike with the chemicals. Also, the treatment will be long lasting. It is not recommended to do a chemical treatment on your own, but a cream treatment can be done no problem by a novice, since it is easy to do and the material is not hazardous at all.
The most obvious dangers of damp proofing chemicals are the ones that are associated with any type of chemical. The fact is that they are strong and that contact with chemicals can cause damage. That is why it is recommended to allow experts and professionals to perform these tasks. However, if you are dead set on trying to do the chemical treatment yourself, then it is very important to protect yourself. That means, not only should you be wearing clothes that are protective and that cover your skin completely, but you should also be wearing goggles as well. It is also important that the clothes that you were are made of special materials that the chemicals cannot burn through. If you need to know what kind of things to wear, then it is best that you contact a professional. Just like any other chemicals, these can really hurt you as well.
Damp proofing chemicals are very strong, which means that they can not only cause burns to the skin, but if you are exposed to them for long periods of time, these chemicals can promote faster aging, and also cause problems not only of the immune system but of the nervous system as well. If you breath in these chemicals they can also cause many respiratory problems. What is most important to remember is to keep these damp proofing chemicals away from your children and if you are having this procedure done to your home, make sure that you know where you children are at all times.
The uses damp proofing membranes
Not many people really know what damp proofing is really used for, especially the damp proofing membrane s . It is a way to waterproof buildings and other constructions in order to keep moisture away from the building and stop it from passing through walls. There are two parts that are important to the process. The first is the damp-proof course, which is usually referred to as a DPC, which is a barrier that goes horizontally in a wall in order to keep the moisture away. The damp-proof membrane (DPM) is the same thing, but it is used for a solid floor. There are many things that can be used as DPM, that is why it is very important to educate yourself about your situation before buying anything or having anything installed.
There are many different materials that the DPM can be made of, and it all depends on what each case needs individually. For example, some of the materials that can be used as DPMs include plastic, sand, mortar, stones, bricks, slates, cement, concrete, mastic asphalt, or even flexible materials like mituminous felts, copper or sheets of lead. The DPM is put under the floor slab, which will serve to keep ground water out of the general area and keep the floor dry.
When you are having problems with moisture in the floor are, you will probably noticed something called rising damp. This is usually caused by groundwater, but it can also be caused by humidity as well. It is best to consult an expert before deciding what type of damp-proof membrane to use.
Posted by Sachit Patel on April 06, 2011 (0 Comments)
Early forms of chemical damp proofing applications were complicated and time consuming. The classic method, first introduced for masonry walls, was to use a penetrating liquid such as silicone into predrilled holes in the walls. Once the masonry absorbed the liquid it would cure to form a waterproof barrier.
As the demand for chemical damp course repair has grown, the construction materials industry has responded with modern solutions, usually in the form of damp-proofing creams or liquids. These are simpler and faster to apply and do not require expensive pumps.
Silane diffusion involves the use of a thixotropic silane cream which diffuses slowly through the mortar to release silane vapour. This reacts with silica in the bricks to form a continuous membrane of impervious resin. The silane is an irritant chemical and should be used with great care. It can take anything up to a year for the damp to dry out, although the process will be accelerated if the application is done in the spring or early summer.
chemical damp course transfusion also involves drilling holes in the brickwork, which are then fitted with a dispenser. Aqueous chemical damp course is fed by gravity into the dispenser units which diffuses the chemical to form a barrier. Because this is a highly efficient method with little wastage of the chemical, it is one of the most cost-effective ways to combat damp.
chemical damp course may also be injected directly into drill holes. This method is usually recommended only for single brick walls.
When you should be treating your house for damp
When the first signs of damp occur in your home it’s tempting to dismiss it as a minor problem. There may be nothing more than a slight humidity in the air, a very light efflorescence of powdery salts on the surface, minor discoloration of paint or the faintest of musty smells. There are always more urgent maintenance jobs to be done and it’s easy to put off the damp as a nuisance which can be dealt with on a sunnier day. This can be a bad mistake.
There are two problems with putting off treating damp. The first is that, while the outward signs may be slight, they are an indication of more serious changes within the structure of the walls. The second problem, which arises directly from the first, is that these changes will open the way for ever-increasing amounts of moisture to percolate through your walls. The damp problem accelerates exponentially and you’re faced with a spiralling degree of damage and a more and more radical – and expensive – solution.
damp should always be regarded as a serious and urgent problem and you should take steps to remedy it as soon as you become aware of unwelcome moisture within your walls. At the very least you should immediately call a qualified assessor to evaluate and identify the problem and recommend treatment. To the inexperienced eye, it is difficult to differentiate between the various forms of damp which all require different treatment.
rising damp is one of the most infuriating problems faced by a homeowner, and one of the most frustrating when trying to resolve it. There are various solutions for different cases of rising damp, so it’s important to identify how the problem arises and what is going on within your walls. What causes rising damp? It’s the movement of moisture upward through permeable building materials by capillary action within the pores of its structure. This moisture may dissolve soluble materials such as calcium salts along the way. It eventually reaches the warmer interior surfaces of the walls where the water evaporates, leaving the salts on the surface as the familiar powdery coating which indicates a problem.
Houses are always built with protection against rising damp in the form of a camp course. In older buildings this will be easily identified as a couple of courses of darker-coloured waterproof bricks at the bottom of the walls. Modern buildings will have a stone or, more usually, plastic barrier between two courses of bricks, identifiable by the slightly thicker “gap” between the two courses.
Because these two solutions are almost universal, virtually any case of rising damp is caused by a breakdown of the protection. In the case of waterproof bricks, this may be because they have become permeable over time. If there is a plastic barrier, it may have suffered mechanical or chemical damage. In either case, the integrity of the protection is compromised and capillary action is free to do its work.
An ounce of prevention is worth a megaton of cure and this applies absolutely to moisture-related problems with buildings. There are basically two cases in which damp proofing is an issue. The first is initial construction when it’s important that proper moisture barriers are used and properly installed. The second is the case of an older building where the original damp course is no longer doing its job properly and must be repaired or replaced.
damp proofing a new building should not be a problem provided you have engaged a responsible professional builder. He or she will know the importance of using quality materials and will be skilled in the correct way to install them. In the case of a modern solid floor, the builder will cover the entire concrete pad. If more traditional building methods are used, all walls will have a damp-proof course, usually slate, plastic, bitumen or copper between the first two rows of bricks.
Applying damp proofing to an existing building is a different problem because the old and failing damp course must be replaced or supplemented. This is done by injecting a chemical cream between two rows of bricks about six inches above ground level. The cream is injected from a cartridge into holes drilled into the mortar. Once inside the wall, the cream diffuses before curing to become a water-resistant resin. Do it yourself kits have made this a job which you can do yourself, but it is important to follow instructions carefully