The Different Types of Damp Proof Courses

Is there a musty smell lingering in the air in your home? Are there wet areas forming on your ground, floors and walls? Is your wallpaper or paint beginning to bubble or peel? These are all signs that your home is suffering from the destructive effects of rising damp! This is a common problem in London that is caused by your home’s outer walls drawing water up from the wet ground. If this is happening in your home, you should contact an independent damp surveyor to find out for sure. The damage done by rising damp can be prevented with the installation of a damp proof course, a protective layer between your walls and the ground.

There are several different kinds of damp proof courses as follows:

Mortar Injection – A chemical-enhanced mortar is injected into 10mm holes drilled into the wall 150mm above the external ground level. Mortar injections are highly effective for walls with voids or rubble within their structure, the mortar fills up the gaps to seal the wall and prevent rising damp from entering.

Chemical Injection – A water repellent cream or gel is injected into the holes drilled in a wall to form a waterproof layer. If this is the course your independent damp survey recommends, it is a powerful solution that can last for decades.

Membrane – This damp proof course installs a plastic membrane under the structure’s concrete slab that will keep it dry. The application is fast, simple, and very long-lasting.

Cavity Wall – A waterproof material is installed in the cavity between the inner and external walls,creating a barrier that keeps the rising damp out.

Electro Osmotic – Titanium and copper wiring are inserted inside a brick or stone wall to carry a small electrical charge. The charge reverses the wall capillarity’s polarity, which pulls any rising damp back down below the damp proof course’s level. This can be an even more effective solution than an injection in brick or stone walls.

What kind of damp proofing course is best for your home often depends on when it was constructed. Many older homes don’t have one at all, so one must be installed! Today’s newer houses are legally required to have them installed during the construction. If your new home suffers from rising damp, call an independent damp surveyor in London to check if the damp proofing was installed correctly. In cases like these, a chemical injection solution is likely going to work the best. If your older home is older or undergoing a major renovation then go with a physical solution.

At London Damp Specialists, our experienced surveyors utilise cutting edge technology to diagnose damp issues, so our inspections are always performed to the highest standard. If you have a rising damp problem, just call London Damp Specialists on 020 7523 5882 and we will dispatch an independent damp surveyor near you to help ascertain your damp problem. We are here to help keep you safe and dry!