DIY Damp proofing, how to ?

alanco15

Hi, all
I have been looking into doing my own Damp proofing, by hiring the injection machine and buying the fluid etc.

Cost about £18 per day for machine and 25lts of fluid is £33.

Is it going to be as simple as it sounds, i am imagining drilling holes putting in the injector , squirting in some fluid , and woeking my way around the house like this. what are the spacings and measurements for this,
And i dont really understand how injecting at various intervalls creates a solid continuous barrier.

Can anyone please shed some light on the subject, is it worth doing myself , i am an average diyer, with some knowledge, some of the prices quoted by firms scare me a bit . not worried about the replastering side of things.

Thanks all

myhooose

I used the damp proofing cream which is installed with a silicon type gun although you have to buy the overpriced gun from the manufacturers to fit the cartridges. The web site gives you the correct depths and spacings. It was fairly painless to do though on single skinned walls the specified drill depth caused the mortar the fall off the other side causing a hole right through the wall.

However I'm a little sceptical chemical dpc's are particularly effective. I think the key is using the right waterproof plaster after to stop the problem returning.

On some very damp walls I used waterproof plastic membranes from floor to celing which allow the wall behind to breathe and dry out.

alanco15

Thanks, i am a little sceptical too, i have found two methods online, the cream and the pump injector system, which is best anyone know.

Remedy

The injection fluids and the emulsified creams are merely different means of carrying the same silane/ siloxanes into the wall. These chemicals do not form a physical barrier, instead they line the capilliary pores in masonry with silicones to counteract rising damp.
Whichever system you use, ensure the product carries a BBA certificate. The British Board of Agrement is an independent body that tests, assesses and approves building products.
Try Safeguard Dryzone, Twistfix Dampcure or Wykamol Ultracure

greenlaws

Dont.. Damp proofing is a waste of time - doesnt work, and is there to sell chemicals to an unsuspecting public. If you have damp problems, diagnose them properly first - they will NOT need any form of drilling, injecting or chemicals - The Dutch dont even HAVE damp courses. I wont go into great detail about this on this thread - have a look at one or two of the more recent threads on damp in this forum and I've put a few references to publications and authors - the most commonly quoted author on damp is Jeff Howell - who talks a lot of sense - English Heritage have just published their Part L statement - if you google this, it tells you exactly what I'm saying... Have a look at the heritage-house dot org website and look at the damp pages - theres more advice there - i get all my clients to look at it. Also look for a book published by RICS called Diagnosing Damp - by Ralph Burkinshaw and Mike Parrett - they explain exactly WHY rising damp is a fraudulent myth, and how to diagnose your problems and fix them easily, WITHOUT and damp proofing chemicals or drilling... Hope this helps!

mikey72

The above notwithstanding, I had a house with rising damp done with this

http://www.dryzone.eu/en/advantages-of-dryzone/

it can be done easily as a diy, but I needed the paperwork for the mortgage if I sell it.
It's also BBA approved, not all others are.

It was put in easily, it's a terraced house, the danger with pressure injection is you may blow through into the neighbours on the party walls, so I went for this.

It worked superbly, the rising damp dried out, and I replastered as in accordance with the guidelines.

I've done a few little jobs in other houses since, just to cure small areas, again it's worked fine.