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Building Lime Company | Tel: 01794 884294
Penetrating Damp
Old houses were built with walls thick enough so that water could not penetrate through. However, in some situations the walls have become either too porous or the location is extremely exposed, such that rain water does penetrate through to the inner face.
The remedies employed to protect the walls were often ineffective or unsightly. The more effective remedies were slate/tile hanging or Mathematical tiling on battens. However, they do not suit every house or every situation.
Sand cement render was used in most situations from 1900 onwards. Cement render invariably cracks allowing rain water in and compounding the problem.
In some situations the use of an external cavity lath membrane, (detailed so it is ventilated) and plastered over with a lime mortar, can be the most effective cure for the problem. It is aesthetically pleasing and is a long term solution to the penetrating damp problem. The inside would then require a month for each inch of wall thickness to dry out
In old buildings, basements still need to breathe and the walls are not often strong enough to take a tanking system.
Tanking systems are of a stronger material than brick or stone so are prone to de-bonding and cracking.
Tanking will not accommodate any building movement.
We would recommend the LSE Membrane system in preference to cement based or epoxy systems, the benefits being:
be installed to deal with a certain amount
of free flood water.