Damp walls are cold walls. Moisture passing through a wall carries dissolved `salts'. When salt reaches the surface of plaster or paint it spoils the decorations and eventually `blows' the plaster. Such walls are also very prone to Condensation and hence Black Spot Mould. If the walls are below the damp proof course, partially below ground, or `earth retaining', they will always be damp. Traditionally the way around this problem was to cover up the damp with wooden paneling, but this tends to rot. So, `tanking treatments' were invented - in its original form a waterproof, liquid coating that bonds to damp masonry. If you need any help with damp walls, tanking treatments,or cellar tanking our staff here at Allkare Tanking UK will be pleased to give you completely free, no obligation advice on 0800 731 9121. The information you need may be in the project below. If not, call us.
Tanking Treatments
The three main tanking treatment methods are:
Liquid bitumen coating - painted onto the cleaned brickwork, stone, block or render - difficult to apply to old, damp salty masonry, prone to separation from the wall and render coats due to incomplete curing. This type of tanking treatment is best for non-critical small jobs, or external coating below the damp proof course.
Cement based slurry - applied by soft brush onto damped, cleaned brickwork, stone, block or render - easier to apply because the cement base wants to amalgamate with the masonry and mortar. Not a true vapour barrier, so needs to be finished with `breathing' materials. This type of tanking treatment is ideal for partial below ground situations or exterior coating on foundation walls.
Air gap membranes - not strictly `tanking' in the same way as liquids - it is a dimpled plastic sheet fixed onto brick, stone, block or render with plastic plugs to form an air gap cavity. These Membranes can have a plain surface, for battening or a Mesh surface for direct plastering or plaster boarding. This type of tanking treatment is ideal for cold, single leaf walls and for lining rooms with cold solid 9 inch walls.
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