Chemical Damp Proof Course – Drilling Patterns

What Causes Rising Damp?

As mentioned previously, rising damp is the result of water travelling up the wall via small holes in the masonry, in the same way as water travels up through a straw. Most modern houses will have a damp proof course to prevent this from happening, but there are still situations that can bypass your DPC and lead to rising damp. These include the following:

Your Damp Proof Course is Below Ground Level

If your DPC is below ground level then water will settle and seep into the wall above it. This bridging of the damp proofing can allow water to rise up the wall. This is commonly caused by patio and paving works to existing properties, amongst other causes.

External Bridging

During a cavity wall installation, excess building debris can get trapped between the walls. If the debris is situated particularly poorly, then water can begin to pool within the cavity and seep into the wall. This will bridge the DPC and lead to rising damp.

Neighbourhood Bridging

Though rare, it’s possible for rising damp to affect your house through shared masonry with another property. If you can’t locate a reason or cause for your rising damp, then it’s worth considering the positioning of your neighbour’s walls, especially if only specific areas of your house are being affected.

To be 100% sure of rising damp, the cause and the most effective solution, it’s always best to instruct the assistance of a professional.

How to Install a Chemical Damp Proof Course

Whilst traditional DPCs were made using a variety of materials from slate to pitch, modern DPCs are created using chemical creams, gels and fluids. A chemical damp proof course is the best solution to DPC issues in your property but requires a specific set of steps to work correctly, which is why most individuals entrust trade specialists with the responsibility. Currently, our team use Tri-Cream as our DPC solution.

There are a variety of different damp proof courses available. Some chemical DPCs look like a white cream, whilst others have a more translucent gel consistency. Regardless, they are rarely visible from the outside of the building so what the chemical DPC looks like rarely has an impact on a property’s aesthetics.

Chemical DPCs work by being injected into the masonry at the base of the affected walls. The DPC then spreads throughout the masonry, coating the pores in water-repellent silicone resin which prevents water from passing through. To ensure an effective damp proofing installation, the injection of the cream or gel must be at the correct depth and spacing.

However, before installation can begin, it’s often necessary to remove any salt-contaminated damp plaster from the inside walls. After all of the affected plaster has been removed, an analysis of your walls is required to ensure the correct technique is used when drilling and injecting. To help explain the method, we have prepared some diagrams on drilling angles and patterns.

See Drilling Patterns

All chemical damp proof courses should be installed at least 150mm above ground level, with the holes drilled approximately 110mm apart dependent on construction.

From here, the chemical damp proof course can be injected into the wall and left to penetrate the masonry surrounding each hole.

Chemical Damp Proof Course Cost

Chemical DPC installation can vary in price depending on many variables, including:

• Wall size
• Wall location
• Wall type
• Number of walls affected
• House type
• DPC product
• The extent to which your property has already been affected by rising damp

The only way to truly know the price is to get a quote from a qualified professional like our team here at Garratt’s Damp & Timber. Get in touch with us today for a survey and quote for your property and we will supply you with bespoke advice tailored to your damp concerns.