Damp-Proof Courses
Groundwater is often the cause of damages in buildings. The porestructure of many building materials enables the capillary absorption of groundwater, of which only a limited amount evaporates again and which can cause damages to the building materials. With time salt and lime effloresence as well as mould can appear on walls. In some cases rising damp can cause cracks and frost damage, as well as algae, fungus and moss growth. To protect buildings from rising damp it is recommended to install a remedial DPC.
There are different ways to protect masonry from rising damp, such as for example installing various options of physical DPCs or using a chemical DPC.
Installing physical DPCs is usually quite interfering, time intensive and expensive, as mortar courses and sometimes even complete rows of bricks have to be removed and replaced. The easiest way to install a damp-proof barrier against rising damp is injecting a chemical DPC. In this case a hydrophobic material is being introduced directly into the masonry. However there are two differences:
Remedial DPC with a Liquid Water-Repellent
Liquid DPCs have been used for several decades however they include a number of disadvantages. Their installation appears relatively easy; at a regular interval drill holes are drilled into the mortar course and the material is without pressure introduced into the masonry through injection funnels. However with this method you can never be sure how much of the material has really been introduced into the masonry. The liquid can accumulate in cavities or seep through cracks without completely saturating the masonry. This can make the DPC ineffective and another treatment of the wall might be necessary, resulting in further costs, more time investment and still the uncertainty if the treatment was fully successful.
Cream-Based Damp-Proof Courses
In contrast to liquid DPCs there is no risk of spilling or leaking when using a cream-based DPC. Cream-based DPCs, just like liquid ones, are introduced into drill holes, which have been drilled at a regular interval into the mortar course. After injecting the cream the active ingredients spread in the mortar course and create a damp-proof barrier against rising damp. Using a cream-based DPC makes it possible to know exactly how much of the material has truly been introduced into the wall. An exact calculation of the amount of cartridges needed is possible, which works at the same time as a control to see if enough material has been introduced into the drill holes.
Pioneer of cream-based DPCs was the patented Dryzone Damp-Proofing Cream from Safeguard Europe. The cream was developed in 1999 and did not only simplify the practical installation of DPCs, but also reduced the time needed for the installation. For the execution of the installation only a drill and applicator gun are needed, no specialist tools required. If used according to the application instructions it is extremely easy to install a remedial DPC in a short time span by yourself.
The latest development are Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods. Even simpler than the installation of Dryzone, Dryrods can be introduced into the mortar course without the use of an applicator gun. Dryrods are made of 12 mm × 180 mm fibre rods, which have been soaked in a powerful, water-repellent material and which distribute their active ingredients along the mortar course. Simply drill holes into the mortar course, introduce Dryrods and close the drill holes again. The installation of a remedial DPC has never been this easy.