Understanding the Role of Building Materials in Damp Prevention
If you are building a new home in London or refurbishing an older home, this is your chance to make sure that you can keep it warm and dry by using damp proofing techniques and materials to defend your investment from the ravages of moisture damage. Today, there are a wide variety of dependable moisture-proof building materials available on the market, so you will be sure to find a solution to suit your home’s needs!
Let’s examine some of the top damp-proofing building materials that can keep the wet out of your home!
Damp Proof Paint – It’s essential to defend your precious home from unwanted moisture entering inside and causing damp-related problems that can harm your home’s value, structure, and your own health! One very popular and easy-to-implement approach is to use damp proof paint that contains a waterproofing agent that will put a stop to moisture seeping through your home’s walls. Damp proof paint is usable on the home’s exterior and interior, and is highly durable, making it a great long-term solution.
Damp Proof Membrane – Dampness is one of the biggest problems homeowners face, which keeps damp specialists in London like us so busy! We want you to stay healthy and dry, so here is another building material we recommend to battle the damp! There are several different materials that damp proof membranes are made of, such as polyethylene, asphalt, and bitumen, which are applied as a liquid sheet to the target surface. A damp proof wall membrane is an ideal solution for stopping moisture from entering through your home’s walls.
Damp Proof Course – This describes a physical barrier that is put in place to prevent the passage of moisture from the ground rising up the walls and causing damage. Homes that lack a sufficient layer of damp protection, or have a damp course that has been compromised, are susceptible to excess moisture rising up from the ground. This rising damp can damage the wall’s plaster, paint, wallpaper, as well as cause wet or dry rot in unprotected woodwork. The damp proof course can be fashioned from several kinds of materials, for example, plastic damp proofing can replace traditional masonry.
The majority of modern homes will have a damp proof course at a minimum of 150 mm above the ground level. You might see it as a mortar course with a plastic DPC sheet or a bitumen sheet poking out at the edges. These are very effective materials that are long lasting, although structural movement from nearby construction or seismic activity may cause it to crack, and older bitumen material will eventually break down from old age. Today, damp proof courses and other long-term damp proof solutions are required to be installed in all newly built homes to stop rising damp from happening.
If you have questions or need assistance with damp proofing in your home, just call Damp Proofing Ltd on 020 7593 8030 during office hours or fill in the online form and we will be happy to help!