Floor Damp Proof Course

Standards for damp proof.

Floor damp proof course.

In masonry walls below a coping where the coping is constructed from a material that is not impervious to water. These days damp proof membranes are required in the construction of all new buildings to prevent rising damp. The damp proof course may be horizontal or vertical. A quick summary checklist.

When constructing an extension or a new build home it is important that damp proofing measures are taken during the initial construction phase itself. Damp proofing is accomplished several ways including. A damp proof course dpc is a barrier through the structure designed to prevent moisture rising by capillary action such as through a phenomenon known as rising damp. Concrete floors are susceptible to rising damp through the same capillary process as walls.

You may also notice damage to your flooring and floor joists. In principle all concrete floors should include a damp proof membrane across the whole floor area and this should be linked to the damp proof courses in the surrounding walls to provide continuity of protection against ground moisture. Depending on the extent of the rising damp this can be a more costly and extensive job to repair. In this article we look at how you can spot rising damp and how you can fix it diy.

The damp proof membranes used during construction of concrete floors are often thin and can easily become torn before they are laid rendering them. Of course these can be harder to spot unless you have exposed floorboards. Damp rising through concrete floor slabs is fairly common causing damp issues on carpets and floor coverings warping wooden floors and increasing the likelihood of low level mould growth. A damp proof course may also be required.

Rising damp is the effect of water rising from the ground into property. In the joints between walls and door and window frames. Houses are usually built with a damp proof course dpc just above floor level to prevent moisture rising up but if this has failed or the property did not have a dpc then rising damp can occur. The selection of materials for the damp proof course and its various methods of applications in buildings is discussed.

A failed damp proof course can cause a lot of damage due to rising damp. Damp below damp proof course level. As it dries out the damp retreats slowly back to the points of ingress so if you are not able to see any isolated damp areas either ventilate and heat or shut all the doors and windows and use a dehumidifier. Tip 1 if a concrete floor is damp all over it is hard to isolate the moisture source.

It s worth bearing in mind that depending on the severity of the problem and whether the floor is affected it might be a case of repairing the existing damp proof course and membrane. The damp proof course dpc is generally applied at basement levels which restricts the movement of moisture through walls and floors.