We often hear about damp issues in old houses. But understanding damp proofing Sunderland in old buildings can be confusing.
It’s like a wild sea full of ‘timber and damp surveyors,’ ‘injection damp proofing Sunderland contractors,’ and pushy salespeople with ‘damp meters.’ They’ll try to convince you that high readings mean your damp course is broken or that there’s rising damp. So, heritage building construction needs more care than others.
How to Make an Old Building Damp Proof?
● Make the building breathable
Remove unbreakable materials like gypsum plaster, cement render, and cement pointing. Also, remove wallpaper that traps moisture and use clay-based paints instead of plastic emulsion paints.
● Install a damp-proof course (DPC)
A DPC is an impervious layer built into a wall above ground level to prevent moisture from rising up the wall. Older buildings used materials like slate, bitumen, jute, and hessian for a DPC, but today plastic or chemical injection DPCs are used.
● Inject a damp-proofing cream
A damp specialist can inject a damp-proofing cream into the wall through drill holes in the masonry. Once cured, the cream creates a protective layer that stops moisture from rising through the brickwork.
● Use a water-repellent membrane
Introduce a water-repellent membrane between the source of dampness and the adjacent part of the building. Enhance heritage building construction preservation with a water-repellent membrane. Our advanced solutions protect historical structures from water damage, ensuring longevity and maintaining architectural integrity for generations to come.
● Use pressure grouting
Combine sand, cement, and water to fill any cracks in the structure. For wide cracks, pour the grout with high pressure.
● Apply a water-repellent substance
Apply a layer of water-repellent substance on the surface through which moisture enters. Water repellent metallic soaps like calcium and aluminium tolerates and separates are effective against rainwater penetration.
In the End..
It is important to remove any 'unbreakable materials' from the heritage building construction such as gypsum plaster internal and cement rendering external. This is to make sure the damp proofing Sunderland is effective enough.