Treating rising damp yourself: here's how to do it
Do you suffer from damp walls? You may be dealing with rising damp. It is important to address this problem to prevent further damage. Fortunately, it is often possible to treat rising damp yourself. In this article, we share all the essential information about this.
Rising damp, a moisture problem you would rather not have
Rising damp is caused by groundwater being absorbed by the foundation and walls, this because there are problems with the dam in the wall. This leads to moisture spots that are mainly visible close to the ground, but the moisture can also spread further into the wall. Both interior and exterior walls can suffer significant damage as a result.
This moisture problem can occur in both old and new houses, and it brings with it all kinds of negative consequences. Some examples are:
It is therefore very important to treat rising damp at its base. It is often possible to treat the rising damp yourself.
Treating rising damp yourself with wall injections
When you want to treat rising damp yourself, there is usually only one method that is effective: the injecting the wall. This involves drilling holes in your wall, which you then fill (read: inject) with a damp-proof gel. That gel then spreads deep into the pores of the wall. The chemical components of the gel react with the elements in the wall, resulting in a water-repellent layer that blocks rising moisture.
Step by step treat rising damp yourself
Step 1: the preparation
A prepared man is worth two. This is no different here. These are some preparatory steps you should take before treating rising damp yourself:
Step 2: drilling the holes
After the preparation, it is time for the real work: drilling the holes in the wall. Holes should be drilled along the full length of the floor. The holes should be spaced 10 centimetres apart each time, and they should come just above the floor line. It is recommended that you mark off the holes first.
After determining the locations of the drill holes, measure the thickness of the wall to be treated. The drilling depth should be about 90% of the wall thickness, often this amounts to 2 centimetres less than the thickness of the wall. To actually drill the holes, it is recommended to use a long 12-millimetre stone drill bit. After drilling, the holes should be carefully cleaned with a hoover to remove drill cuttings.
Step 3: injecting the wall
After drilling the holes, you can inject the walls. You fill the holes with the damp-proofing agent, and you do this using a caulking gun or spray gun. Do this as follows:
A handy tip to remember: if emulsion gel is spilt, it is advisable to clean the spill immediately with warm soapy water. By doing this quickly, you prevent the emulsion gel from drying up and becoming more difficult to remove.
The pros and cons of treating rising damp yourself
There are some advantages to injecting your wall yourself. For one, you can cut costs, and you can completely decide when to inject your wall. You also have more control over the entire process and can closely monitor your wall and spot any problems in time.
However, performing wall injections yourself does not come without dangers either:
Treating rising damp yourself: the conclusion
Although fighting dampness yourself is possible, it requires patience and precision. Nevertheless, we recommend hiring professional help, as it guarantees a correct execution and final solution. Due to favourable prices and a reduced VAT rate, professional moisture control is often not much more expensive.
Tackling rising damp for good
Do you have a moisture problem, and suspect it could be rising damp? Our field engineers are real experts when it comes to this moisture problem. Contact AquaConsult now for a no-obligation free expertise.
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