StormDry...... Good, or load of old tat?

warwick2001

Good morning all,

As per the title, has anyone used Stormdry masonry protection cream, and if so, was it any good/does it work?

I've watched plenty videos, they all claim its great, but I always take that with a pinch of salt. Would prefer an actual users opinion, if possible.

Thanks

Doozergirl

Oh please.  It's snake oil.

What's the problem?  Let's find a proper solution.  

Grenage

No; it's nonsense and a waste of money.

warwick2001

Doozergirl said:

Oh please.  It's snake oil.

What's the problem?  Let's find a proper solution.  

No problem here, I was just wondering as I was on the Youtube, and there were a few video's doing 'lab tests' proving its the bees knees

FreeBear

warwick2001 said:

Doozergirl said:

Oh please.  It's snake oil.

What's the problem?  Let's find a proper solution.  

No problem here, I was just wondering as I was on the Youtube, and there were a few video's doing 'lab tests' proving its the bees knees

Like the one that pumps air through a treated disc and claims that it proves the stuff is breathable ?

Where is the comparative test with an untreated sample ?

And how many buildings do you know that are pressurised ?

There are recognised tests & certification for the permeability of wall coatings. A starting point would be ISO 7783  - It sucks when an international body for standards charges for access to the documents.

warwick2001

FreeBear said:

warwick2001 said:

Doozergirl said:

Oh please.  It's snake oil.

What's the problem?  Let's find a proper solution.  

No problem here, I was just wondering as I was on the Youtube, and there were a few video's doing 'lab tests' proving its the bees knees

Like the one that pumps air through a treated disc and claims that it proves the stuff is breathable ?

Where is the comparative test with an untreated sample ?

And how many buildings do you know that are pressurised ?

There are recognised tests & certification for the permeability of wall coatings. A starting point would be ISO 7783  - It sucks when an international body for standards charges for access to the documents.

That's the one.

The guy doing the test seems fairly genuine, and isn't employed by the company, but like others, and yourself, have said, its a murky world of damp treatment out there... 

donemedosh

I put up a post about storm dry about a year ago. There are companies out there selling you the dream that this will make your house warmer/drier/stop damp etc etc. I fell for this in a mad moment (did get some money back after threating court action) but it is a water repellent & when it rains the bricks have dropplets on them. However is my home drier / warmer / all damp issues cleared up, simple answer NO. would I apply it again NO,do I think it is worth the money even doing it myself NO. Would I recommend buying it (you guessed) NO.Hope this helps

stuart45

I've never used it myself, so I can't really comment on how good it is. Silane Siloxane sealers have been used in the USA for at least 30 years, and were claimed to be breathable back then. 
The majority of moisture gets through to the inside via the cross joints. The idea of a solid 9 or 13 inch wall built with a soft brick is that the moisture is absorbed evenly over the wall, and then evaporated away later. Internal insulation does prevent this happening as effectively than without it. 
When the bricks stop absorbing moisture it runs down the wall and may find it's inside through any cracks in the bed joints.
Known as the overcoat(soft bricks) raincoat(less porous bricks) effect.
resisting-rainwater-penetration.pdf (brick.org.uk)

ispookie666

Maybe I can provide a different view. 
 
I have applied to the exposed masonry in the rear of the house as it normally bears the brunt of the rain(most of the wall is rendered except the lower 50 ish cm).  The bricks used to get absolutely soaked and there was a lot of brick efflorescence! I was installing some cabling and drilling holes, the bricks were soaked and the brick dust was replaced with brick paste (it had not rained for a week). 
I applied stormdry and was not expecting much, but in the 6 months since  I have not noticed any efflorescence, bricks are not damp.  when i have drilled into them, they are dry.  
For me it is money well spent even if it only lasts only a few years.  
 

Chanes

I used stormdry on a wall that was exposed to wind-driven rain and the rain runs off it and I've also been inside the cavity and it was bone dry.