Damp Proof Course Floor

In masonry walls below a coping where the coping is constructed from a material that is not impervious to water.

Damp proof course floor.

Of course if this does happen they are essentially ineffective from the off. Damp proofing is accomplished several ways including. There will always be some moisture in the ground below your house. Damp proof course repair can be applied using a variety of different methods and is a long term solution to preclude moisture from entering a property through walls.

The damp proof course may be horizontal or vertical. In the joints between walls and door and window frames. In suspended timber ground floors between the timber and materials that can carry moisture from the ground. In basements garages and old buildings where exposed concrete floors tend to be found the most damp can become an issue too.

Homes should be built with a damp proof course dpc. Depending on the extent of the rising damp this can be a more costly and extensive job to repair. When constructing an extension or a new build home it is important that damp proofing measures are taken during the initial construction phase itself. A damp proof course dpc is one of several damp proofing treatments used to prevent damp problems developing within a property.

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. A damp proof course may also be required. These days damp proof membranes are required in the construction of all new buildings to prevent rising damp. The water travels up through the flooring and walls.

Damp proofing concrete floors above ground damp proofing for extensions. Concrete floors are susceptible to rising damp through the same capillary process as walls. Rising damp is the effect of water rising from the ground into property. The damp proof course dpc is generally applied at basement levels which restricts the movement of moisture through walls and floors.

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 consequences of not damp proofing a concrete floor are obvious especially once a floor covering is placed on top. It generally starts in the foundations. 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.

The damp proof membranes used during construction of concrete floors are often thin and can easily become torn before they are laid rendering them. The selection of materials for the damp proof course and its various methods of applications in buildings is discussed.