When a home is damp proofed, a physical barrier is placed in the walls and floor to prevent moisture entering the interior of the home, which is the cause of rising damp. This membrane is added to the walls and floors during construction, the membrane can be a plastic sheet, copper or concrete. When a home is constructed with a cavity wall, damp proofing in Brighton is required on both the inner and outer wall. The material used for damp proofing of the inner wall is placed below grade. Although this is the common method, a single sheet of heavy gauge plastic can be cut to fit into both walls.
A method which is commonly used to prevent rising damp is a DPC, damp-proof course. A DPC is a horizontal barrier which is in the wall. A similar technique is used for the floor; this is referred to as a DPM, damp-proof membrane. The resistance to moisture of these two methods has been determined after a number of tests and calculations were conducted.
To prevent rising damp, which unfortunately is a common occurrence, Brighton damp proofing is required. The materials that are used in construction; brick and mortar are very porous and act as a wick in bringing damp -carrying nitrates to rise up from the ground. Along with nitrates come chlorides. The salts absorb moisture from the surrounding atmosphere which results in damp walls during periods of high humidity.
Building codes in most countries specify that damp proofing be taken into consideration when the structure is being built. The specifications may call for engineering slate or plastic strips but there are other equally effective materials for damp proofing; copper, layers of sand under the floor slab and cement concrete are all acceptable.
Walls are normally damp proofed by placing a thin layer of plastic between courses of blocks. A damp-proof membrane normally consists of a polythene sheet which is spread under the floor before the slab is poured. Cavity walls are designed to have a damp-proof membrane on both the inner and outer walls, the membrane is installed about eight inches off the grade thus insuring that splashing water near the base of the wall will not have any effect on the wall above the level of the DPC.
