Location: Begbroke, Oxford
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Problem: Dampness in buildings can occur from multiple defects within a property and in this particular case study, we show how heightened grounded levels outside the property can bridge your Damp-proof course. The purpose of a damp-proof course is to stop water from the ground rising up the walls of buildings. However once external ground levels raise above the damp proof course, the water from the ground can easily start to climb and enter the property laterally. Unfortunately, lowering the ground outside is not always an option. In cases like this and this, a chemical damp proof course needs to be installed. A common question we get asked all the time is “How do I know if the damp proof course is bridged or if there is one installed at all”. The answer is there are some tell tail symptoms you may find such as salts visible on your wall surface or even dark staining or blown plaster. There is a wealth of information on why the damp problems occur and our highly trained CSRT/CSTDB and CSSW damp surveyors follow the trail to the problems through internal and external observations carried out during surveys.
Works completed: On arrival our damp specialists covered the floors and used polythene sheets in areas where work is to be carried out to protect from dust. Once the skirting boards were removed we then carefully removed the contaminated wall plaster to the height indicated on plan. At the point above the external ground level we then began drilling small holes internally into the mortar joint at the base of the wall. We then injected into these holes a thixotropic cream which created the chemical damp proof course. After the damp proof course was installed the next phase was to apply the salt retarding sand and cement render with waterproofing additives from our plastering team. This then completed the installation of the two part damp proofing system. Once this stage was complete the plastering was carried out and electric sockets reinstated leaving just the skirting boards to be refitted by our carpentry specialists
