Homeowners have a lot to contend with and one of the biggest problems they face is damp. The presence of damp and mold inside a property is both unattractive and unhealthy – damp has been associated with allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems. With this in mind, you may be wondering how to control condensation, which is a leading cause of damp. In serious cases, you’ll need expert help but, luckily, there’ve been a number of advancements in technology to make damp proofing a property more successful. We’ve taken a look at all the latest tech to help you understand what’s available.
Waterproof Plastering
One of the most serious types of damp is rising damp, which starts at ground level and travels up through your walls. It can completely destroy wallpaper and decoration as well as cause structural damage. The building materials used in damp proofing have become more technologically advanced over the last few years. It’s now possible to prevent damp from returning through using waterproof plastering. This technique is particularly successful in rooms which are prone to damp, such as bathrooms or those on external corners of the property.
Tanking
In construction terms, tanking means the application of a waterproof membrane over an external wall. This advancement in technology makes it possible to prevent damp from entering a property and causing damage. The materials in the membrane can vary, but typically it’s made of a waterproof cement slurry. It’s particularly common for tanking to be undertaken in basements, as they’re below ground level and are more vulnerable to the elements. However, tanking alone is not normally enough to prevent damp from becoming a problem again in the future, and a full damp proof course should be used.
Damp Proofing Injections
For a quick fix, many homeowners are seeking out the latest damp proofing creams and seals. These can be used to treat rising damp by injecting the formula into a drilled hole in the motor joint. The idea is that the chemicals will travel through the masonry to reduce the amount of damp in the wall and prevent ground salts from building up. This is a highly attractive solution for many people, as it’s possible for them to undertake the job themselves. However, damp proofing injections are often considered just the first step in treating rising damp. You may still need to re-plaster your walls following a course of damp proofing injections to ensure that damp is banished for good.
Damp Proof Rods
Rods are one of the latest technologies available for treating rising damp. The rods work in a similar way to damp proofing injections; they are inserted into holes which have been drilled in the motor joint of your wall. Once they’ve been put in place, the rods release their silicone-based active ingredients to form a damp proof course throughout the motor. This creates a barrier against moisture and prevents damp from becoming a problem in the future. They can also be used to treat walls which have already become saturated, by reducing the mobility of ground salts and preventing them from soaking into the wall. Rods are very simple to use and are highly affordable – available from as little as £20 – making them a popular choice for damp proofing.
