As part of the UK Government’s aspirations to become carbon neutral by 2050, measures are being put in place to tackle carbon emissions from properties. London’s homes and workplaces account for 78% of the capital’s carbon emissions, which points to the ever-growing need to address energy wastage from inefficient buildings. One of the ways property developers will achieve this is…

Damp-proofing and waterproofing specialists from Remedial Treatment Consultants were also brought in to carry out the installation works.

Anglia Decor carried out a full investigation of the building and determined that the high porosity and bad condition of the exterior walls was the cause of the problem. The problem consisted of four main elements:

The Problem Due to a combination of extended wet weather and defective pointing, the weather facing walls of the property had been suffering from penetrating damp. This had led to damp patches, blown plaster and bubbled patches of delaminated paint appearing on the internal decorating surfaces.

The damp patches were not drying out, even during the warm and dry summer months. Crawley Borough Council surveyed the situation.

As the clients wished the sandstone block façade of the original dry dock to be maintained, the most obvious solutions (i.e. application of waterproofing slurry, or lining with a cavity drainage membrane) were not possible. Instead, JJ Metcalfe Ltd. proposed reducing the passage of water through the masonry by raking out the mortar joints and replacing the mortar with waterproof…

The UK government has an ongoing commitment to reduce net carbon emissions by 2050 and as such the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has been carrying out research into retrofit insulation installation. Although there is a large focus by developers to ensure that new buildings are constructed with energy efficiency in mind, experts agree that there needs to…

Stormdry CB Crack Bridging Coat has now been launched as part of Safeguard’s expansion of the Stormdry Masonry Enhancement range. Stormdry CB Coat is a water-resistant coating intended for use on masonry and stone where multiple fine cracking is seen on the wall surface.

Stormdry XR Mortar is also ideal for filling holes drilled to install Dryrod DPC Rods or Dryzone DPC Cream.

The British Board of Agrément has certified Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream after extensive testing.

The Dryzone System is as effective as a sand:cement render but cleaner, quicker and less expensive to install per m2. It allows the use of cement-based plasters to be avoided when treating rising damp on heritage projects. An air gap is also created, creating a warmer final surface and helping to minimise potential condensation issues. More information is available on…

Test Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream on masonry with these sample tubes.

We are pleased to announce the launch or Stormdry, a deeply penetrating masonry water-repellent supplied as a ready-for-use cream. Stormdry is the result of over three years research and development, resulting in a product that is: Easy to apply (time-saving one-coat application)Effective on a wide range of masonry substratesBreathable (does not block pores)Deeply-penetratingUV-resistantAlkali-resistant (suitable for application onto freshly pointed walls)…

9th January 2009 – Vandex have published a new brochure on the subject of waterproofing and protecting structures that come into direct contact with drinking water. Many products from the Vandex range are suitable for use in contact with drinking water and carry international approvals (e.g. DWI, WRAS, DVGW, KTW, and NSF). The new brochure outlines how these products can…

Check out Vandex product application videos at safeguardeurope.com

The expansion caused by wall tie corrosion can force apart mortar joints – causing cracking of masonry. Other symptoms include bulging of walls and the lifting of roof edges. In severe cases wall collapse has even been reported. Wall tie corrosion is particularly common in buildings in coastal areas (due to salt-laden driving rain) and in masonry that has…

The diagrams below show how a crack in a masonry wall can typically be repaired using the Brickfix Crack Stitching System.

The Vandex Concrete Repair System provides a systematic procedure for concrete repair. The system consists primarily of cementitious materials which are homogeneous with concrete (strength, modulus of elasticity, thermal movement).

Chimneys are more exposed than any other part of a building so it's not surprising that they are particularly vulnerable to rain penetration