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2. Classification of material
The materials commonly used to check dampness can be divided into the
following four categories
a) Flexible material
Material like bitumen felts (which may be Hessian based or fibre/glass fibre based), plastic
sheeting (polythene sheet) etc
b) Semi rigid materials
Materials like mastic asphalts or combination of materials or layers.
c) Rigid materials
Materials like first class bricks, stones, slates, cement concrete etc
d) Grout materials
Grout consists of cement slurry and acrylic based chemical or polymers.
3. Material used for damp proofing
Following are the materials, which are commonly used for damp proofing.
1. Hot bitumen
This is a flexible material and is placed on the bedding of concrete or mortar. This
material should be applied with a minimum thickness of 3 mm.
2. Mastic asphalt
This is a semi rigid material and it forms an excellent impervious layer for
damp proofing. The good asphalt is very durable and completely impervious material. It can
withstand only very slight distortion. It is liable to squeeze out in very hot climates or under
very heavy pressure. It should be laid by experienced men of the specially firms.
Mastic asphalt
3. Bituminous felts
This is a flexible material. It is easy to lay and is available in rolls of
normal wall width. It is laid on a layer of cement mortar. An overlap of 100 mm is provided at
the joints and full overlap is provided at all corners. The laps may be sealed with bituminous
if necessary. The bitumen felt can accommodate slight movement. But it is liable to squeeze
out under heavy pressure and it offers little resistance to sliding. The material is available in
rolls and it should be carefully unrolled, especially in cold weather.
4. Metal sheets
The sheets of lead, copper and aluminium can be used as the membranes of
damp proofing.
The lead is a flexible material. The thickness of lead sheets should be such that
its weight is not less than 200 N/m2. The lead can be dressed to complex shapes without
fracture and it possesses high resistance to sliding action. It is impervious to moisture and it
does not squeeze out under ordinary pressure. It resists ordinary corrosion. The surfaces of
lead coming in contact with lime and cement are likely to be corroded and hence a coating
of bitumen paint of high consistency should protect the metal.
The copper is flexible material. It possesses higher tensile strength than that of
lead. It is impervious to atmosphere and it does not squeeze out under ordinary pressure. It
possesses high resistance to sliding action. The external wall, especially of stones, is likely
to be stained when a damp proof course of copper is adopted. The surfaces of copper
coming in contact with mortars are likely to be affected. But for normal use, the metal does
not require any protective coating.
The aluminium sheets can also be used for damp proofing. But they should be
protected with a layer of bitumen.
Metal sheet
7. Mortar
The mortar to be used for bedding layers can be prepare by mixing 1 part of
cement and 3 part of sand by volume. A small quantity of lime is added to increase the
workability. For plastering work, the water proof mortar can be prepared. It is prepare by
mixing 1 part of cement and 2 part of sand and pulverized alum at rate of 120 N/m3 of sand.
In water to be used, .75 N of soft soap is dissolved per litre of water and soap water is
added to dry mixed. The mortar thus prepared is used to plaster the surfaces. Alternatively
some patented water proofing material such as pudlo, cido, dempro etc may be added to
cement mortar.
9. Cement concrete
A cement concrete layer in proportional 1:2:4 is generally provided at the
plinth level to work as a damp proofing course. The depth of cement concrete layer varies
from 40 mm to 150 mm. it stop the rise of water by capillary action and it found to be
effective at places where the damp is not excessive.
10. Plastic sheets
The material is made of black polythene having a thickness of about 0.55 mm
to 1 mm with usual width of wall and it is available in roll lengths of 30 m. this treatment is
relatively cheap but it is not permanent.
Building foundation on ordinary soil where the sub soil water table not high is
also liable to get damp. Bricks being porous, brick masonry below ground level can be
absorbing moisture from adjacent ground. This moisture travels up from one course to
another by capillary action and can make the wall damp for a considerable height. This can
be checked by providing DPC at appropriate place.
In case of building without basement the base portion for damp proof
course lies at plinth level. In case of structure without plinth, DPC should be provided at
least 150 mm above ground level. If the damp proof course is just laid at the ground level,
earth, dust or leaves might accumulate outside the wall and y the passage of time the level
of outside the earth may be raised above theD.P.C.level. In such case, moisture can travel
from outside ground level to brickwork above D.P.C.and hence the purpose of providing
D.P.C. will no be served.
coat.
II. Lay bitumen felt in the singe layer over the primer coat.
III. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.5 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt to serve as finishing coat.
Immediately after laying, the DPC is protected with a course of brick laid flat on
a cushion of fine sand. This prevents damage to the DPC specification on account of
droppage of sharp edge implement or other materials during construction.
coat.
II. Lay bitumen felt in a single layer over the primer coat.
III. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.5 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt.
IV. Lay another layer of bitumen felt in a single layer over the hot bitumen layer in step III
above.
V. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.5kg/m2 over the bitumen felt laid in step IV.
The horizontal DPC is laid on the smoothened top of the lean concrete bed.
The lean concrete should be thick or strong enough to withstand the construction traffic. As
explained earlier immediately after laying, the DPC is protected with a course of brick laid
flat on a cushion of finesand to prevent to damage to DPC specification on account of
droppage of sharp edge of implement or other material during construction.
The vertical DPC is laid continuous with the horizontal one on the external face
of the basement wall and it is continued 150mm above the ground level where it is tucked
into 65 mm deep groove made in the wall. The groove is subsequently filled with cement
mortar 1:4. The vertical D.P.C., unless protected is likely to get punctured by roots of trees
or get damaged by salts/acids in the soil. Necessary protection in this regard is given by
constructing half brick outer skin wall.
IV.Treament to Basement in Damp Soil
Ground water always produces hydrostatic pressure and as such poses great
problem in design of basement. In sites where the ground water table is high, the problem
of damp proofing of basement can be tackled by one of the following methods.
I. By providing foundation drains and DPC.
II. By providing RCC floors and wall slab and DPC.
III. Water proofing treatment by using grout consisting of cement mortar admixed with acrylic
based chemicals along with rough stone slabs.
I. Four course Treatment: The method of laying a four course treatment may be broadly
How to install a damp proof course
First, check for high ground levels, leaking gutters and down pipes, water leaks.
1. Drill 12mm diameter holes at 115mm intervals in the mortar course (or via the brickwork,
angled down to meet the mortar course) selected to be at least 150mm above outside or
abutting ground level
2. Fit the extension nozzle to the cartridge tube and load into the skeleton gun
3. Inject cream from the bottom of the hole outwards until the hole is full.
4. Holes can be capped with mortar or fitted with a plastic plug
Replastering project for detailed information. in some cases you are better off using an air
gap membrane instead of sand and cement – have a look at membranes and then give us a
call for help with your decision.
Conclusion:
Even with the loss of traditional skills and the complexities introduced into building by
new materials and new styles of occupancy, the conditions resulting in damp to the base of
walls can easily be avoided with a little thought and scientific understanding. Indeed, new
materials and techniques can often be used to advantage if their properties are analyzed as
potential environmental controls. In contrast, the misdiagnosis of rising damp and the
general application of particular products and techniques without considering the
consequences lead to the unnecessary waste of the increasingly limited budgets available
for maintenance and refurbishment. A more rational approach to the diagnosis and
treatment of damp problems in buildings is only good building practice, which independent
surveyors and their scientific consultants should promote in the interest of sound building
and public health