Damp Proofing Course

DIY Damp proofing - Can I do the damp proofing myself? The million dollar question! Many DIY damp proofing enthusiasts are now "having a go" at damp proofing walls themselves with mixed results. With a wealth of information and products easily accessible and a trying economic climate, the DIY damp proofing approach seems simple in principle however the mis-diagnosis of the cause of damp in structures and the wrong product for the site conditions can turn a relatively straight forward damp proofing job into a recurring problem. Common building practice is to incorporate physical damp proof courses into the structure. This is easily achievable in new build construction but in existing properties the ability to assess the effectiveness of a DPC should be carried out by damp specialists. Rising and penetrating dampness and the treatment is a skilled process and legitimate contractors can be sourced who can offer clients insured guarantees for curing dampness in structures. These guarantees are important in the future and are a requirement to have should the client wish to sell on their property in the future.

DIY Damp Proofing Advice Above Ground Or Below 

Now if you are going to take the DIY damp proofing approach and do not require a insured guarantee, you first must establish whether you are dealing with a pure damp proofing job i.e. your property is all above ground.

A damp cellar or basement is not a damp proofing job!

Many DIY damp proofing jobs go wrong when an individual looks to treat damp walls in a basement with simple damp proof injection cream, or a cavity drain membrane without a provision for drainage. The retaining jobs needs an expert approach with waterproofing diagnosis, design and installation fully guaranteed. There are companies now which take on fully design liability for below ground waterproofing. If you can be sure that you property has no retaining aspects then the first step of DIY damp proofing would be to establish whether your property has an effective damp proof course. The damp proof course depending upon the age and style of construction should be visible 150mm above external ground level, it may be slate or HDPE and this does the job of protecting the property above the DPC from wall damp. A defective damp course or lack of is where DIY damp proofing can then be used. OK - injection creams, fluids, paint on bitumen, cavity drain membranes would all be useful DIY damp proofing solutions.

Installation Of A DIY Damp Proofing Course

As a DIY damp proofing solution, damp creams are best choice of damp proofing course for structures of brick, where the cream mixed with the mortar, stops any dampness coming up above that stage. But this method is not an effective one for a structure done of random stones. We cannot expect that the damp proof material injected will provide 100% protection on this structure. The best solution in this case would be installation of a dimpled meshed damp proofing membrane on the interior walls. With this technique, the dimples in the damp proof membrane hold the membrane away from the damp wall and create an air gap, which provides the ventilation required for the damp wall to dry out. The mesh on the membrane then accepts plaster, so it can act as a new wall surface. It is recommended that such work isn't done as a diy damp proofing job, but is undertaken by qualified experienced specialists who do this work very quickly with provide a guarantee for their work.

Read about Damp Proof Chemicals here