Damp proofing or Tanking as it is known can be an excellent way of converting cellars or basements into a working/living space without breaking the bank, but can add to the value of your property.
Tanking controls penetrating damp in earth retaining walls which are usually below ground level.
Unlike rising damp which will often stop approximately one metre above ground level, penetrating damp can affect the whole wall from top to bottom.
Therefore administering a tanking ‘layer’ system will ensure the best long term solution to penetrative damp problems.
Damp proofing or Tanking as it is known can be an excellent way of converting cellars or basements into a working/living space without breaking the bank, but can add to the value of your property.
Tanking controls penetrating damp in earth retaining walls which are usually below ground level.
Unlike rising damp which will often stop approximately one metre above ground level, penetrating damp can affect the whole wall from top to bottom.
Therefore administering a tanking ‘layer’ system will ensure the best long term solution to penetrative damp problems.
If left unidentified or untreated wet rot attacks wood in damp conditions and can cause significant damage over time.
There are many species of wet rot, which attack timber. However, the two most common are called Cellar Fungus (Coniophora puteana) and Mine Fungus (Fibroporia vaillantii).
Treatment for wet rot includes getting the timber moisture content under control. Removing the weakened wood. Applying a fungicidal treatment to the remaining timber and replacing all removed timber with treated timber.
Dry Rot occurs when moisture travels through brickwork and mortar to dry wood. Therefore it is recommended that where dry rot is found, plaster and wall coverings should be stripped back to a metre past the infestation in all directions and the whole area treated.
Identifying the source of water and allowing the affected timbers to dry will kill dry rot as it is a fungus and requires water.
The common furniture beetle or common house borer (Anobium punctatum) is a woodboring beetle.
The damage caused to the timbers is due to the feeding of beetle larvae. It is important to recognise the type of infestation before curing the problem.
Infestation can be controlled by application of a residual insecticide to the infected areas, by professional fumigation, or by replacing infected timber.
Specialised Plastering
The most common approach to re-plastering is using a dense sand and cement render as a backing coat incorporating a waterproof additive. Once dry, a gypsum skim coat is applied to give a smooth finish.
When the existing plaster is removed, there may be a lot of dust. We advise that adequate steps are taken to remove or cover furnishing for protection.
Re-decoration following Damp Proofing
Following re-plastering a minimum of at least two weeks must elapse before the new plaster can be decorated and all areas need to be visibly dry. At this time decoration should only be with a water based permeable emulsion, vinyl paints should not be used.
Permanent decorations such as wall papers can be applied when the wall is fully dry, which can take up to a year and in some cases much longer.
