02/03/2024
DAMPNESS IN HOUSES
As rains pour, there are constant problems of houses evolving dampness. This is evidenced by existence of molds, paint peeling off and efflorescence on surfaces.
With paint peeling off, it is a house losing its state because the eye-catching smooth surface will be no more.
There are serious health respiratory threats associated with inhaling molds fragments which are: chest tightness, coughing, and throat irritation. Just like COVID 19, these issues could develop further and cause lung malfunction resulting to chronic health problems. In rundown, we can say, house dampness ought to be prevented at all costs.
HOW IT OCCURS IN A BUILDING
The main reason is water seepage through capillarity. It could be due to leaking pipes or moisture percolation from natural ground the house is rested on. The latter being main cause, here is how to avoid it during construction.
1) Identify the highest ground of your plot and ensure that the level at which your house is rested is elevated by at least 300mm(1ft) from highest point of a nearby road. This becomes your datum level.
2) During backfilling, do not overlook having quality hardcore that does not allow water permeability.
3) After hardcore is laid and compacted, spread a blinding layer of either murrum or approved quarry dust. This is to provide protection to damp proof membrane. Perforated membrane will allow water through.
4) Place damp proof membrane (DPM), polythene sheet of gauge 1000 works better in stopping rise of moisture through slab.
5) When casting, remove air bubbles by subjecting newly cast concrete to compaction by use of a poker vi****or. This helps a lot in eliminating pockets that can freely allow water movement.
6) After casting, just before the first course of superstructure wall is set, put in place the damp proof course (DPC) along the paths of walls. We recommend ordinary mastic asphalt membrane that is available from any equipped hardware. This DPC further aids in discouraging any possible rise of moisture to the walls. Due to its texture, it also enhances bonding between mortar and walling units as it offers interlocking effect.
REMEDIES OF ALREADY BUILT HOUSES WITH DAMPNESS PROBLEMS.
1) ON SLAB
To stop the rise of moisture through a slab, we have to inaugurate a barrier that discourages permeability.
Here are steps to repair such a SLAB.
1) Hack to remove floor screed.
2) Clean the entire surface with wire brush making sure all vague entity is gotten rid of.
3) Further, wash the surface with clean water to remove any dust.
3) Apply waterproof polymer which is well mixed with cement in the ratio of 1kg polymer: 1.5kg cement. This coat is well applied using a painting brush in either sideways or vertical spasms.
4) Allow to dry for at least 4 hours.
5) Apply the second coat of waterproof with spasms at 90° of the first coat.
6) Allow to dry for at least four hours.
7) Reinstate floor screed with a dosage of waterproof.
8) Allow to set and cure, then apply your preferred finish.
REPAIRING A WALL.
The process is similar to that of floor. The disparity is that on a wall, moisture distribution could not be entirely on the whole wall because moisture content is rising vertically. Therefore, identify the highest level of moisture reach and take this to be the height of wall repair. This means that all walls have to be repaired up to this level. You then have to distribute this level on the walls and repeat steps 1 to 6 above, reinstate the plaster that has mortar mixed with waterproof additive. Allow to cure and do the finishing.
Engage us if you have such construction issues.
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