The Quickest Way To Damp Proof a Wall (ever)
Damp-proofing in a Day
What are the problems our customers in Barnsley, Sheffield, Wakefield, Doncaster and Rotherham tell us they are concerned with when having to have any damp-proofing remedial works carried out at their property?
- Will there be a lot of dust?
- Will the plasterers create lots of mess?
- Will it be expensive?
- Will it be noisy?
The worlds quickest damp-proof system being carried out in Barnsley (near Sheffield) Before we used to have to tell the customer “well it could take a few days as the salt neutralising backing plaster that goes on will need to dry at least 24 hours if it is light weight and longer if it is sand & cement with an additive to prevent any cracking”. “This would inevitably add to the labour costs but you will find all damp companies are in the same boat”, this is how the current system has to be installed.
Mixing the backing plaster will cause some mess as we either have to use the cement mixer with the bags of sand and cement or the paddle mixer and bags of dusty powder that has to be mixed up with water. So our answer would be you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs but we do have sheets and covers.
So What is the System?
The room is sheeted up as would happen normally with floor coverings either being rolled back or taken out.
The skirting is taken off and plaster hacked off up to 1.2m or 300mm after the last signs of damp. The debris is then bagged up and cleaned away.
A new damp proof course (DPC) is then drilled and injected in accordance with BS6576 using thixotropic creams. A salt neutralising cream is then applied to the masonry and this does what it says on the tin, neutralises any salts.
The next step is the clean and fast part, acrylic dots are added to a plaster-board then in between instastick foam glue dots are added. The board is then eased up to the wall and held in place with props for 10 mins. This allows the instastick to basically stick the board to the masonry. We do this because the acrylic takes a couple of hours to take hold. The instastck has no substance when first applied but the acrylic does and this holds the plasterboard off the masonry (we don’t want the plasterboard to be touching the masonry). If the floor is solid the plasterboard should be packed off the floor. the acrylic and foam dots will not allow moisture to track across it as it is non-permeable. Different types and sizes of plasterboard can be used dependant on the existing plaster thickness.
Next use instastick to fill the gaps at the top sides and bottom. once cured cut off the foam. This may take an hour, so grab a cuppa.
All the previous work may have taken you up to dinner time so now we can either PVA or SBR the existing wall where the plaster is to be blended in.
The scrim can be stuck to the plasterboard joints and we like to use the bigger mesh on the joint with the existing plaster. Mix up your multi or board finish and skim the wall blending in seamlessly.
Once the plaster is finished in 2-3 hours stick the skirting on using the acrylic and instastick and hold in place with the props for 10mins. Use decorators caulk if needed.
You now know how the fastest damp proof system in the world works. We have installed this in thousands of customers homes in South Yorkshire like Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster, and Rotherham. We would also consider going to West Yorkshire and Wakefield and Leeds.
We really hope this blog has given you some value. Visit our Website alldrydampproofing.com to down load our free e book on damp and read more blogs.
Also, Fastest DPC system watch the video of how this was done here and subscribe to the channel.
One dynamite last tip is, if the floor is timber foam any gap there may be in the floor boards to the wall. This will stop any damp or moist air coming up from the sub-floor or basement.
If you read this to the end and got the last tip thank you. The time it takes to do the system would be reflected in the cost but don’t assume that every wall can be done this way.
Our surveyor would decide which system would be used once the plaster was off and we have the ability and means to use all systems and materials on the market today.
Always use a competent contractor with the relevant CSRT & CSSW qualifications and preferably Property Care Association (PCA) members.
8 comments on “The Quickest Way To Damp Proof a Wall (ever)”
Great advice here Simon, keep up the quality articles.
Thank You Adam, will do
When you say acrylic dots between the Pu foam adhesive, what acrylic do you use?
Its a product called Drygripp from Safeguard Europe.
Thank you for this article because it’s really informative, I love reading your any damp-proofing remedial works. We are surface so the new paint will adhere properly details.
Thanks for this article because it can help with drywall repair at home. It is good for contractors to read this so that they have an idea.
Hi simon im plasterer and i was just wondering on your video you do not go to the floor which i know is correct you then fill it in with insatstik foam.My question is ,is this correct and will the foam not cause a bridge or is it actually good as adpc barrier when cure
cheers matey carlo
Hi Carlo,
the instastik is waterproof to an extent and will not cause any bridging. i do it so debris wont get swept into the gap as dirt will bridge the gap and this could happen over time.