Fix up damp before the rainy season

If you haven't yet got round to solving the problem of rising damp, now is the time to do it before the rainy season gets in full swing and you end up with even more problems. Set aside one day this weekend and pop into your local Builders to stock up on what you need to stop rising damp in its tracks.

 

 

Rising damp can cause severe problems if not attended to as soon as possible. The bubbling and peeling paint is only what you can see on the outside, but underneath the moisture being absorbed into brickwork can eventually lead to failure and end up costing you a fortune to fix.

Rising damp can be caused by many reasons:
Failure of the dampproofing course (DPC) that is laid between the foundation of your home and the brickwork on top. Bricks and mortar suck up moisture like a sponge, so the DPC is a vital component to ensure this does not occur. Many homeowners forget about the DPC and pile up flower beds against the wall at a height that is over the top of the DPC. This means you are bypassing the DPC and this will result in moisture being absorbed into wall and causing paint to blister and peel.

When paving is installed you may also forget to take into consideration the level of the paving, with paving installed above the height of the DPC layer, or paving not being laid in such a way as to direct rain water away from the structure. All these can be reasons why paint starts to bubble, flake off or peel away. The best solution is to lower beds to a level below that of the DPC, or install some type of drainage system to direct the flow of water so that it does not remain in contact with the walls of your property for an extended period of time.

Treat rising damp:

• Use a paint scraper to remove completely remove paint around the affected area  until you are back to a cement / plastered surface
  
  
• At this stage you can remove and repair any sandy or poor plaster. Rub over the surface with a stiff brush to remove any loose or sandy mortar and touch up with Polyfilla Masonry Patching Plaster.
  
  
• Thin the first coat of Plascon Dampseal with 30% mineral turpentine.. This allows the product to be absorbed into the brickwork for added protection.
  
  
• Apply 3 coats of Plascon Dampseal, allowing 24 hours drying time between each coat. Plascon damp deal is an oil-based product, so clean brushes with mineral turpentine.
  
  
• Finish with an exterior paint of your choice

Plascon Dampseal is formulated for both interior and exterior use. Use on walls in bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, basements, cellars, and other places where damp occurs. Dampseal effectively seals the surface and protects subsequent paint layers against the effects of rising and penetrating damp. It also protects against paint peeling, efflorescence, and mould developing on the affected surface.