DAMP FACTS AND INFORMATION

Water is fantastic! It is the basis of life on earth and we all can gain so much enjoyment from it. However the ingress of water in our homes and other buildings is problematic, as affects property values and the health of persons living there - not just stress wise, but also in regard to breathing problems, bed bugs (they like damp atmospheres) and much more.

Water ingress can come from different sources e.g. leaking roofs, burst pipes, drains etc., all of which can arise from time to time, but capillary rising damp can be eradicated with current technology.

To digress for a moment:If you search around the internet, you will find people questioning the existence of rising damp. The problem is that a combination of wrong diagnosis or overly commission motivated "salespersons" have tainted the reputation of the of the damp proofing industry. Understandably this "tainting" also brings a degree of cynicism with it.

So does rising damp exist? YES! ABSOLUTELY! Has the phenomenon been fully understood? Not really! Otherwise we would have seen the use in the UK of much more innovative products to control capillary rise. Such products have been used effectively in EU countries for over quarter of a century!

However where rising damp is suspected a full and complete analysis is essential to establish the exact cause. Capillary rising damp results from a number of factors: geological, biological, chemical, physical and climatic. The telluric geomagnetic fields that cover the earth, which in some cases give rise to rising damp also hold the solution. For an in-depth understanding of this, please download and read our Technical Fact Sheet on the link below.

 
The presence of moisture in the masonry can jeopardize the stability of structures. The materials are demineralize, mortar joints and disintegrate, bricks or other materials lose their strength and become brittle.

Humidity affects your health. The moisture-laden air, the proliferation of microorganisms, fungi, mosses and insects as well as cooling the air due to the loss of insulation of damp walls, may be the cause of diseases and respiratory allergies.

The moisture in the masonry causes a cooling of the ambient air and reduces the temperature and comfort of the spaces occupied or used by residents. The air smells damp and musty are sources of physical and mental stress.

Saltpetre is a deposit formed by minerals (nitrates) on walls of damp and poorly ventilated buildings. Saltpetre deposits occur in the form of a white powdery unsightly layer and forms a wave like tide mark. A clean and healthy home contributes to the well-being of its inhabitants. For landlords who wish to protect their investments it is essential that such problems are dealt with, especially from the health aspect, as this could bring the possibility of litigation.

Although injected chemical damp-proof courses can provide a useful short to medium term protection for certain types of structure if properly diagnosed, The general application of these are rarely the most cost-effective way of controlling damp problems in buildings, and may also prove to be wrongly specified and ineffective. In addition, original plasters, renders and finishes get destroyed in the process of injection and the drilling of holes etc.

The correct diagnosis as to what is causing the rising damp is essential otherwise the client’s money and resources are simply wasted.

Current damp proofing methods:

Chemical damp-proof course:
As it is liquid, a chemical damp-proof course is a far more practical and less invasive solution than inserting a solid DPC. It involves injecting a silicone-based liquid into the wall at the suitable height to create a water-repelling layer.
However, the effectiveness of a liquid damp-proof course can vary since it does not pass through the wall evenly, and can create continuous holes through which moisture can still pass. In addition, the solvents in the liquid which enable the chemical to dry off quickly do not mix with water well, and can therefore fail to pass through the very wettest parts of the wall.
Modern technology does provide us with an alternative, in the form of a cream chemical damp-proof course, which is water-miscible and slow-curing to ensure that the DPC passes through as much of the wall as possible.
Please note that a liquid damp-proof course will not work in walls constructed of breeze block, as these are not porous and do not permit the liquid to flow through them at all. In addition it is not the best solution when it comes to stone.

Solid damp-proof course:
A traditional DPC is made of a layer of solid, waterproof material such as bituminous felt, copper sheet or polythene. Solid DPCs are considered to be the most reliable method of resisting groundwater ingress, but they are difficult to add to a wall after it has been built since grinding out the mortar coarse can weaken the wall and risks cutting through pipes and wiring. Therefore, this approach to damp-proofing is best left for when a wall is being built from scratch.

Porous Tube Damp-Proof Course:
Small porous clay tubes may be inserted into rows of closely spaced holes in the mortar 150mm (6in) above ground level, where they increase the rate of evaporation and therefore limit the amount of moisture that can rise above them. Although a simple and inexpensive approach, this is the least reliable of the damp-proofing methods.

Electro-Osmotic Damp-Proof Course:
When an electric charge is applied across a body that contains moisture, the water molecules are drawn to the negative electrode. This law of science is used in damp-proofing wherein titanium electrodes are inserted into the wall, with the negative cathode at the bottom so that the natural tendency of water to rise up through the wall is counteracted and reversed, so the water simply returns harmlessly back into the ground. The electrodes and the wires that connect them are hidden beneath the mortar that lies between the relevant courses of brickwork, and are connected to a power unit, which plugs into a standard 13amp socket, and maintains the very tiny electric charge across the masonry, and of course the whole system must also be earthed.

Solid Floor Damp-Proof Membrane:
Modern homes tend not to have suspended wooden floors, but solid concrete ones instead since they are cheaper to construct. Like any other masonry, concrete will allow damp to rise through it unless a waterproof barrier is placed in its path.
This is where a damp-proof membrane (DPM) is put into use; essentially a large sheet of polythene, bituminous felt or copper sheet which should be placed between the concrete slab and the screed on top of it. This membrane should be linked up to the DPC that is placed in the interior leaf of the surrounding cavity wall, to ensure that the concrete floor does not bridge the DPC in the wall. If the concrete floor has no DPM, or the membrane has been ruptured, the floor should be sealed with heavy duty moisture-curing polyurethane, allowing about 1 litre for every 5m2 (54 sq ft).

A very important point:

Sometimes people have been been disapointed because they have chosen a "cheap" option and had their rising damp problem treated by inexperienced tradesmen. Often in such cases the diagnosis is poor and in somecases non-existant and the "tradesman" has given an attractive price with no guarantee. The result is that the damp returns and the property owner has to have the work done again. All this could have been avoided if the client had not been "lured" by the possibility of a "cheap" result. Our advice is to check that the "contractor" offers a guarantee and also what tests they will make to verify that it is rising damp; this should be much more than just a visual and sticking a moisture meter against the walls. Damp proofing professionals will be more than willing to oblige and thus the client will avoid disapointment and wasting time and money!

Mur-Tronic:

This is our solution and in our opinion the most logical and effective remedy for capillary rising damp click here to read more!

Additional related information and facts:

Telluric currents :

Telluric currents are phenomena observed in the Earth's crust and mantle. Telluric currents consist of both the natural electric currents flowing within the Earth, including the oceans and the electrical currents from man-made systems. Telluric currents flow in the surface layers of the earth. The electric potential on the Earth's surface can be measured at different points, enabling us to calculate the magnitudes and directions of the telluric currents and thence the Earth's conductance.

Electromagnetic fields:

Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere in our environment but are invisible to the human eye. Electric fields are produced by the local build-up of electric charges in the atmosphere associated with thunderstorms. The earth's magnetic field causes a compass needle to orient in a North-South direction and is used by birds and fish for navigation. Electric fields exist whenever a positive or negative electrical charge is present. They exert forces on other charges within the field. The strength of the electric field is measured in volts per metre (V/m). Any electrical wire that is charged will produce an associated electric field. This field exists even when there is no current flowing. The higher the voltage, the stronger the electric field at a given distance from the wire.

Geopathic Stress health issues:

What is geopathic stress?

Geopathic stress is not only electromagnetic in origin. Geopathic stress can be caused by energies emanating from the earth vibrating at a level beyond the electromagnetic spectrum currently recognised and detected by conventional science and technology. These energies are often referred to as earth energies and can be bad, good or neutral. Earth energies have many different features but most problems are caused by underground water streams and Straight energy lines often referred to as, Ley Lines, Curry Grid Lines and Hartmann Grid Lines. Any feature which affects the earth's natural magnetic field will most likely also affect the earth energies as these are linked in some way.

What are the effects of Geopathic stress?

Spending long periods of time over a detrimental area produces a stress reaction in the human body. This is the same as stress produced by any other means. The effect is gradual, involving a slow deterioration in health. The body becomes more and more debilitated by the on-going effect of the stress and the person becomes ill. Blood pressure may remain inappropriately raised; excess acid may be produced by the stomach, leading to stomach ulcers; decreased activity by white blood cells will lead to less effective resistance to viruses and bacteria. The person may have difficulty in sleeping as the body is on continuous alert. In this situation the body becomes undermined reducing resistance to colds and flu and more serious illnesses such as cancer. It is possible that geopathic stress might be a significant factor in the onset of cancer.