An installer who brings with him a drill and some silicone without conducting an evaluation of the wall first has already committed a major error. There are several ways to treat rising damp treatment Perth and the difference among them cannot just be a matter of aesthetics. Wasting money and making no headway against the condition should be avoided.
Reasons why Some Treatments Work for Others but Fail for Certain Perth Homes
There are pre-federation limestone cottages as well as 1970s cavity brick and rendered homes in Perth. Different materials react differently to treatment options for dampness problems. Incorrectly diagnosing rising damp as penetrating damp, or vice versa since they are different problems with different remedies, is a very costly error to commit.
The correct procedure involves the use of a moisture meter reading that is performed by a professional. Cost, method, and extent of the treatment will depend upon the cause of the dampness problem, its extent, the age of the structure, and the materials used.
Chemical Silicone Injection: The Most Common Modern Option
Top-notch silicone or damp-proof cream is injected into the bottom of the affected wall in regular intervals until a hydrophobic barrier is formed when the material cures. It fills the capillary network in the masonry walls and prevents moisture from travelling upwards using it as its passage.
It is more effective when there is failure in the damp-proof course or where it does not exist at all than when the problem is bridging through external features. Once the wall is treated through the injection of the solution, it has to be left to dry completely before any replastering can be done; otherwise, the remaining moisture trapped by the quick seal may diminish the effectiveness of the remedy applied. This is the most common treatment option for most brick Perth houses built after the Second World War.
Physical Replacement of the DPC Barrier Layer Where Chemical Injection is Ineffective
Properties built before 1950 and those with historical value may have severely eroded DPCs which require their physical replacement rather than chemical reinforcement. This is achieved by cutting the mortar courses around the base of the wall to insert a new physical barrier layer. It is more costly and intrusive compared to chemical injection but necessary if the structure of the wall will not retain the chemical layer.
A professional building inspector should check whether such measures are necessary before a contractor begins working. It means taking a chance to incur unnecessary costs.
Correction of Drainage and Decrease of Ground Levels
If the cause of damage is garden beds, paving or other rendered materials covering the otherwise functioning DPC, then the problem may need an external, not internal treatment. Lowering the external ground level to minimise the pressure of water on the walls and improving the drainage system to prevent groundwater from pooling against the foundation addresses the root cause of the problem.
Sometimes the contractors tend to choose chemical injection instead of checking the external factors. Some Perth properties require correction of the ground level to solve the problem without using any chemicals, especially if it was the reason for the damage.
Replastering: The Final Stage Often Forgotten by the Contractors
Plaster that is contaminated by salt still contains hygroscopic salt particles attracting moisture from the air even if the source of dampness has been successfully removed. Therefore, all the plaster should be stripped off and the wall should be repainted with salt-resistant plaster. Failure to take this final step is one of the reasons why rising damp treatment Perth becomes useless within a year or two after the procedure.
The professionalism at the final stage defines whether the treatment will be efficient for ten years or will degrade in less than a year.
