Damp proof Course: Protect your home from moisture damage

A damp proof course is one of a building’s most crucial elements. The DPC protects the property from ground dampness that can come up through the soil. In this article, we will describe what a damp proof course is, how it functions, and why having one is necessary.

 

Damp proof course: What exactly is it? 

 

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A damp proof course serves as a barrier to stop moisture from moving up a building’s walls. There are several different kinds of damp proof courses that can be used; however, they are often not applied simultaneously with one another. If there is not already a damp proof course installed in the building, or if there is already a damp barrier, but it has failed for whatever reason, then the building is susceptible to issues with rising moisture.

 

Damp proof course: What causes damp walls?

Damp walls can be the result of various problems:

• Problems with the roof, gutters, or drainpipe
• Defective external render or masonry
• Condensation issue
• Problems with the insulation of the cavity walls
• Pointing issues with windows and doors
• The damp proof course doesn’t work
• Dripping pipes
• Faulty drains
• Water from the outside in

It is very necessary that a professional determine the origin of your damp issue in a precise manner. Since an incorrect diagnosis would lead to unnecessary, costly corrective measures that won’t even address the root cause of the dampness in the first place.

known about the cavity wall

Damp proof course: How can I tell if the walls in my home are damp?

 

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The passage of moisture through the walls and floors of a building as a result of capillary action is known as rising dampness. The “tide mark” that is left on the walls and the plaster that is peeling off of the walls are the visible results of increasing wetness. 

Rather than being caused by increasing moisture, dampness in buildings is more likely to be the result of a leak or an issue with the building’s exterior, such as cracked walls or clogged gutters. Given this information, it is possible that installing an injected damp proof course will not fix the problem.

It is best to seek expert advice if you have grounds to assume that your home is experiencing dampness and you are unsure of your capacity to pinpoint the problem’s root cause. The longer you overlook a damp area, the more harm it can do to your home’s structure.

A physical damp proof course will typically endure for 20 to 25 years, but it can fail either because it was improperly placed or because it has deteriorated with time. If a damp proofing course is unsuccessful, this might also result in increasing dampness.

 

Damp proof course: Application

 

• It is applied to defend against dampness and prevent the outer wall from becoming wet.
• When a damp proof course is applied to a property, it helps to prevent a musty and stale odour from emanating from mould that has not been treated. This odour is caused by untreated mould.
• To avoid moisture in the walls of the building, the damp proof course is installed as an essential layer in all of the walls of the structure. This layer is situated close to the ground in the wall.
• To get rid of the wetness and lengthen the life of the paint on the walls, a damp proof course can be used. It is the most essential step in the process of applying for a damp proof course.
• The worth of the house and its current state can be determined by the damp proofing course.
• The use of a damp proof course serves to avoid the structural issues that might be caused by wet rot and dry rot.
• The concrete damp proof course is often used in structures that are designed to store water, such as dams, reservoirs, and other similar structures.

 

Damp-proof course installation: Types and their thickness

 

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It is essential to choose a suitable damp-proof course that will be an excellent fit for the building that will be constructed on the site. The following is a list of many varieties of DPC that are used in buildings, along with their thickness:

Damp proof course injection

This method of the Damp Proof Course requires injecting fluid or liquid into the wall to prevent the moisture from the ground from rising above the damp proof course, which functions as a layer that repels water. In certain circles, this method is also known as a chemical damp proof course injection. At least 150 millimetres above the ground level on the outside, holes are bored into the wall in preparation for the injection of the fluid that is used for injecting as part of the system.

Mortar injection damp proof course

This method of damp proofing is comparable to the Damp Proof Course Injection; however, instead of fluid, cream, or liquid being used as the damp proofing material, a chemically enhanced mortar is used in this approach, and it is caulked into the holes that have been drilled in the wall.

In situations when the building of the wall is of random debris and the structure is extremely likely to have voids, it is appropriate to use this method. In this case, mortar serves the function of a filler by filling the hole in the brickwork; this allows the chemical to be pulled into the wall structure, where it can effectively prevent increasing dampness. A minimum thickness of three millimetres is included in it.

Electro osmotic damp proof course

Electro Osmotic Damp Proof Course is used in situations in which the employment of chemicals would be inappropriate or in which the customer demands an alternative to a chemical damp proof course. Copper and titanium wire are used in this procedure to put a tiny electric charge into the wall. This charge causes the polarity of the capillary in the wall to reverse, which in turn pulls the rising damp far below the level of the new damp course.

Damp proof membrane course

This type of Damp Proofing involves the use of specially made damp proof membranes as a component of a damp proof course, which is then carefully laid down beneath a prepared concrete slab to prevent moisture from penetrating the concrete and forming a damp proof layer. With earth retaining walls, it is one of the easiest and most adaptable techniques of damp proofing to prevent penetrating damp issues in buildings.

 

Protect your building with DPC

Having a damp proof course installed on your house is an essential step in preventing rising dampness, which is particularly crucial given the frequency with which it rains heavily in India, one of the countries in which rising dampness is an issue.

This kind of damp proofing offers a solution that is effective over the long run for preventing moisture from penetrating the building’s base and entering the property. The most prevalent cause of dampness is the absorption of moisture through the floors and walls of a building into the side of the structure.

Damp proof course: Warning signs that you need it

 

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There are a few obvious signs that can be seen in walls that indicate the presence of dampness. The following are the most prevalent warning indicators to keep an eye out for:

• Black spot mould growing on interior walls. This is a frequent symptom, and there is also an issue with condensation.
• Walls that have watermarks on them are likely to have rising dampness or penetrating dampness as the cause.
• Damage to other aesthetic finishes, such as wallpaper and flaking plaster from the walls.
• If wood is allowed to come into touch with moisture, the wood’s structural integrity will begin to disintegrate, which can be seen in the form of skirting boards.

 

Damp proof course: Should a re-rendering be done?

If your home has been afflicted by increasing dampness, then the surface of the walls will be suffering from hygroscopic salts. The purpose of a damp proof course is to prevent additional damage from occurring as a result of moisture climbing up the walls.

However, it will not eliminate the hygroscopic salts that are already present in the render. These salts will remain. If the salts are not removed, then the wall will continue to collect more moisture, which will result in further dampness issues. This will give the owner of the house the impression that the damp proof course is not functioning as effectively as it should be.

This demonstrates the need to return a DPC to the condition it was in when it was first produced. You can either use a renovating plaster or the conventional approach of using sand and cement render with an extra replastering component. Another option is to use a renovating plaster.

 

Damp proof course: What are the effects of neglecting to install it?

 It is possible to prevent moisture from penetrating through the outside walls of the building into the inside by having a damp proofing treatment carried out. If you do not get damp proofing done at your home, you might end up dealing with a variety of issues down the road.

• If you are attempting to sell your house, the deterioration of the plaster and ornamental finishes on the walls can be aesthetically unpleasant and put buyers off. If a potential buyer believes there are hidden moisture concerns with the property, they will be less likely to purchase the property.
• If you do not have your home damp proofed, there is a risk that the moisture can lead to difficulties with the rotting of the wood, such as wet rot and dry rot. This is the most significant consequence of not having your house damp-proofed.
• The problems with decaying wood can also cause varying degrees of structural damage if they are allowed to go unchecked.

 

Damp proof course: Advantages 

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There are a lot of benefits that come with using a damp proof course, which can be found below.

Prevent health problems

Probably the most significant benefit of dampproofing is avoiding the health problems that might arise from living in a wet building. The last thing you want is a home environment conducive to the growth of mould and mildew. Exposure to mould and the toxins it produces can be unpleasant and perhaps deadly. 

Mould often takes the shape of unattractive brown, black, or green patches with a musty, dank odour. Damp and mould can cause a variety of health problems, such as headaches, asthma, coughing, and irritation of the throat and eyes. By dampproofing the walls, you can prevent the aforementioned health problems from ever occurring in your home.

Avoid foul smell

As was noted above, a musty, wet odour can permeate your house if mould caused by moisture is left unchecked. If a wet spot or mould spores are hiding behind a piece of furniture, you may notice an unpleasant odour but be unable to pinpoint its source. You don’t want the musty odour of mould and mildew to prevent you from inviting company over or otherwise disrupting your life at home. The good news is that if professional damp treatment is performed, the odour should be eliminated without too much trouble. Out of sight, out of memory does not apply to moisture.

Enhanced appearance of the home 

In addition to enhancing the home’s aesthetics by eliminating or avoiding a foul odour, damp proofing is a useful practice for preventing structural damage. You will be left with a clean and smooth surface on which to paint or hang pictures instead of dingy areas where moisture has collected or mould that is creeping up the wall. When you paint over moist spots, the paint can crack and ripple, and the black spots can become visible. Instead of spending money on things that just mask the problem, you should thoroughly damp proof your property. The walls will be clean and smooth after the dampness has been thoroughly removed, and the paint will stay much longer.

Increased home value 

If you don’t get wet spots professionally fixed, they will keep coming back, even if you just paint over them. Damp patches might be an issue if you want to sell your property soon or are considering doing so in the future. Potential purchasers can be turned off by the existence of such difficulties since few people choose to put money into a house that has been known to create health problems or unpleasant odours. Aside from being unappealing to the eye, having it on your walls would discourage potential customers. Your house will be in the best possible shape and more enticing to potential purchasers if you take the time to damp proof it.

Prevent structural issues 

Dampness can also lead to more significant problems, such as structural damage. You should take precautions to prevent the kind of severe dampness that might destroy the timbers supporting your home’s construction. When wood becomes moist due to a fungus, it rots. This wet rot fungus causes the wood to become mushy and sponge-like as it deteriorates and crumbles away by dissolving the wood’s cellular structure. Carpets, wall coverings, and plaster are all vulnerable to deterioration and infection caused by wet rot.

Dry rot is far more destructive than wet rot, and it could spread throughout your whole home and even onto adjacent structures. The fungus responsible for dry rot promotes wood degradation by eating away at the hard, dense areas of timber. When lumber is weakened by this fungus, it becomes dry and crumbly, which is a problem since it is often used in building construction. Dry rot occurs when there is not enough airflow in a structure or on a property. The two types of rot, wet and dry, can be avoided by using damp proofing measures. 

 

FAQs

Why is a damp proof course utilised in the building industry?

The function of DPC is to prevent moisture from the ground from climbing up the walls and causing property damage. Similarly, the property must be protected against any moisture rising from the earth.

What are the materials used in a damp proof course?

A damp proof course utilises durable, impermeable substances such as slate, felt paper, metal, plastic, or specifically designed bricks bedded between two courses of bricks or blocks. It is often seen as a thin line in the mortar near the ground.

What is DPC's shelf life?

A properly placed DPC of superior quality will survive for over 20 years. If professionally installed, the majority of businesses will offer a 20-year warranty on your new chemical DPC.

Can a damp-proofing treatment be replaced?

Using a damp proofing injection cream, you can implant a new DPC if the home lacks a DPC or the previous one has failed. A new DPC is typically injected around 150mm above the outside ground surface.

What is the difference between damp proofing and waterproofing?

The term damp-proofing refers to the process of preventing moisture from the surrounding soil from entering a building, whereas the term waterproofing refers to the process of protecting a structure from both moisture and liquid water.

Can a damp proof course fail?

A DPC may fail because of improper installation or because of ageing, localised damage, or bridging. If the DPC fails, your property may be suffering from growing wetness. As a consequence of capillary action, rising damp is moisture that flows upwards through walls against gravity.

What is the damp proof course cost in India?

The price of a damp proof course can range anywhere from Rs. 50 to Rs. 70 per square foot. Prices can vary greatly depending on where you live and who you get it from.