Damp Proofing
Damp proofing homes in the UK is achieved, when damp proofing products are applied to the foundation in order to help prevent moisture/damp from penetrating through the walls into the interior
Twistfix damp proof products make damp proofing walls quick, easy and cost effective.
We sell a number of High Quality Damp Proofing Products
A damp proofing course (DPC) is a barrier that can be installed in a wall which is designed to resist moisture rising through a home or building, which is known as capillary action, capillary action is often referred to rising damp and can be detrimental to your home. In order to combat rising damp a damp-proof membrane should be installed
Rising Damp can occur for quite a number of reasons
- an error in an installed Damp Proofing Course
- changes in foundation or floors due to the raising of external or internal ground floor levels
- there is no Waterproofing membrane installed
Brick, stone and mortar buildings or homes are quite porous which will allow the damp from the ground to rise up the walls. While rising, the damp will bring with it various salts, dirt and other contaminants. These contaminants typically will absorb moisture from the atmosphere which will then be released into your walls by breaking down internal plaster.
Building standards in the United Kingdom require that new buildings must install a damp proof course or damp proof membrane at the initial time of construction.
A Damp Proofing Course is a plastic strip which is installed into the mortar between two courses of bricks. It is often visible as a thin plastic line in the mortar near ground level.
A Damp Proofing Membrane is a thick sheet which is installed under the floor, which will allow the underneath of the floor to completely dry out and keep the groundwater out of the home.
To create a continuous damp proof barrier, pieces of Damp Proofing Course or Damp Proofing Membrane are often welded together. Also Damp proofing course can be welded to the Damp Proofing Membrane around the outside edges of the ground floor, completely sealing the inside of the building from the damp ground under it.
In a wall cavity there is generally a Damp proofing course installed in both the outer and inner wall. When installed into the outer wall it should be approximately 150-200mm above ground level which is the height of about 3 brick courses. This will allow the rain water to form puddles and be able to splash up off the ground, without saturating the wall above the damp proofing course.
It is common in older historic buildings to have a Damp proofing course made from lead. The Damp proofing membrane may in fact be non-existent, leading to a number of damp problems, mold or a very poor air quality; these older buildings frequently rely on an impermeable floor finish on ceramic tiles to keep most of the dampness out.
When a Damp proofing course is not present or insufficient, there are various means of retrofitting one. A very common method when dealing with masonry walls is to drill various holes into the wall at regular intervals and then inject a damp proofing cream or liquid. The damp proofing cream is then absorbed into the masonry, where it then hardens to form a waterproof barrier. Whether in damp proofing cream in damp proofing liquid, the effectiveness of chemical damp proofing products can depend on quite a number of factors, such as the quality of the product, the types of ingredients used, and how the product is installed.
At Twistfix we sell only the highest quality products so you can be sure you are getting an excellent product for any of your Damp Proofing Products
