Paints & Coatings

Damp Proofing Products for Protection Penetrating Damp & Rising Damp

Damp proofing is a descriptive term that broadly covers the methods and remedial treatments that are used to help stop water ingress or moisture being absorbed through brick walls or floors. The type of treatment used to prevent the various types of damp such as penetrating damp or rising damp will vary from property to property. Damp proof paint is often used internally and externally and acts as a liquid dpm to prevent the spread of penetrating damp. A brick sealer or masonry protection cream can also be applied to stop water ingress on bricks and masonry.

If carried out effectively by a professional damp expert, most issues relating to damp can be rectified quite easily. The type of damp prevention treatment any homeowner needs will often vary. Firstly, you need to identify what type of damp problem you have; it could be penetrating damp, rising damp, problems caused by condensation build up or just general water ingress through brickwork or masonry. If you not totally sure what the damp problem you have it may be advisable to seek professional help. A professional damp specialist should be able to identify the problem and recommend a plan of action to rectify it.

Types of Damp Problems

RISING DAMP

Instances of rising damp will only tend to appear when a pre-existing damp proof course (DPC) has been damaged or broken. Once this happens, water in the surrounding ground can seep into the walls via through bricks and mortar. The moisture will then spread upwards and inwards by the a natural capillary action.

Rising damp will only be found on the ground floor of a property and is generally quite easy to identify. Problems associated with rising damp include:

• Damp internal walls with staining appearing above skirting boards
• Salt deposits or efflorescence on the lower parts of walls
• Damage to plaster, wallpaper and skirting boards

PENETRATING DAMP

Penetrating damp occurs when there is water ingress through an external wall, which works its way into a property. This can happen because of water getting into a building via a crack or other defect in the structure. Once a wall deteriorates to the point where it become excessively porous and allows water to pass through into a property, this will inevitably lead to issues arising from penetrating damp (see below)

• Patches of damp appearing on external brickwork and walls
• Damp areas on walls and ceilings
• Damp and crumbling plaster that can drip water
• Mould and mildew that are confined to one area

WALL COATINGS

Protecting external walls and brickwork on any property is important as it can help prevent general deterioration and water ingress which can lead to all sorts of issues. These issues can be expensive to rectify, so it is best to avoid it happening in the first place. A protective smooth wall coating or textured wall coating can be applied to give lasting protection to the brickwork or masonry.

MOULD & CONDENSATION:

Problems associated with water ingress include mould, mildew and condensation build-up. This happens frequently on cold damp surfaces such as internal walls where insulation and ventilation is poor. These common issues can be hazardous to health if left untreated but can be eradicated by applying an anti-mould paint or an anti-condensation paint.