B9GLY

Ive got a 2bed mid terrace and just wanted to know what a damp course consists of now???

do they still pull off the plaster form the inside walls etc how long would it take approx and how much should i be paying for it?

is there anything cheap i could get from b+q or something that will test the damp in the walls to see if i need to have one done??

cheers

B9GLY

must be some builders on here????

sti-04!!

Try the DIY Section mate, you might get on better in there

B9GLY

Dam, i forgot there was a diy section! cheers

bob r

iTrader: (46)

last time i did a damp course (15 yrs ago) it consisted of..................


1. taking off all the old/damp plaster.

2. drilling holes at damp course level 150mm centres and injecting with a damp proofing fluid.

3. apologising to the neighbour as her kitchen was full of the fluid.

4. rendering in 2 coates over bare brick

5. apply the plaster skim.

i think i took out some brickwork also and fitted pvc roll but this isnt always neccessary.

i cant estimate the cost as all houses are different, size, extent of damp etc. testers can be had from b+q that should come with a guide.

B9GLY

thanks for the info bob!

OllyK

I suppose the first question is what makes you think you have a problem and how old is the property.

You can get a damp meter from screwfix for not too much money.

There are new products on the market that are less intrusive than the drilling method, but you still want to get to the root of the problem. Our house is 1900's and our damp course is a layer of engineering bricks which is still working fine to this day and yet people around ushave had drilling done as the houses don't have a "modern" damp proof course of a plastic sheet in the mortar course. The problem you can get with blues is the water works up the mortar joints rather than through the bricks. Also be careful if your house is old (older than 1900's) where lime mortar may have been used, this is a breathable medium and you can get brick face blow out if you start using modern materials. The old bricks are not as water impervious as modern ones and if the water can't get back out through the mortar, the water freezes in the brick!

andy_s37

Idid mine 2 and a half years ago. i hired a damp proof injection machine from the HSS hire shop and 2 drums of fluid. It cost £90. The only down side was that i had to drill 2 holes in each brick 3" (? can't remember properly) deep. Thats about 360 holes. I believe that if you get a builder in they remove bricks at the damp course level and put membrane in than put the bricks back. Either way the plaster has to come off to a height of 1m as the plaster holds damp spores. Hope this helps.

Andy.