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Using a membrane behind dry-linings, as a damp-proofing method needs thought….

15 Aug 10 by

As a damp proofing specialist I regularly use membranes to avoid damp.  However, the use of cavity drain membranes is increasing and on many occasions I find that they are incorrectly specified and cause problems. This is not the fault of the materials, merely poor knowledge of the specifyer.  Sometimes a builder, sometimes a customer […]

Filed Under: Condensation, Damp, Materials, Mould, Surveying, Waterproofing Tagged With: , , ,

Hurray! Damp Guarantees – now last forever….Guaranteed!

06 Aug 10 by

‘Green’ damp solving systems from the ‘Neverlands’ now come with a ‘lifetime’ guarantee. How do you define “lifetime” The inventor’s lifetime?  The customer’s lifetime? the lifetime of the house?  the installing technician’s? the installing limited company? – or the Daily Star advertising director’s? I don’t know.  What I do know is that all companies who […]

Filed Under: Condensation, Damp, Materials, Rising Damp, Salt Damp, Surveying Tagged With:

Where do all these damp and timber treatment solutions come from? Can they be relied upon?

20 Jun 10 by

It’s all very well specialist damp-proofing contractors making promises, to solve damp problems and eliminate timber infestations. The thing is though, on what facts are these promises based on? To find out, I spent a couple of days at Safeguard Europe’s UK headquarters in Horsham Sussex. I found the semi-industrial unit on a none descript […]

Filed Under: Damp, Flooding, Materials, Rising Damp, Surveying, Waterproofing Tagged With:

Resin repair product? Cement repair product? Which to use?

15 May 10 by

Grout, mortar, filler, render, plaster – all these can be based on resins or cement.  In order to know when and what to use, you need an appreciation of the different properties of the materials.  Their weaknesses, strengths and limitations. The following is by no means a detailed guide, it’s a basic comparison of the […]

Filed Under: Materials, Surveying Tagged With:

How a sump and pump keeps a basement conversion dry (Type C waterproofing)

22 Mar 10 by

A Type C cavity drain membrane waterproofing system cannot hope to work without some means of taking water away.  If water builds up a head against the membrane – IT WILL FAIL. Gravity drainage works well, where it can be used, but for many occasions a sump is needed, with one or more pumps to […]

Filed Under: Materials, Waterproofing Tagged With: , ,
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Copyright © 2010 Preservation Expert. Legal Stuff: All the advice and information in the posts on my blog is made in good faith and is based on my experience and knowledge at the time of writing. However, nobody is infallible and whilst I’m confident that most of what I write about preservation issues is accurate, there’s a good chance there’ll be an error or two somewhere. I do change my mind about stuff, as I gain more experience. In view of this you must make your own decisions on whether to follow any advice I write and think about this; I could be wrong. No responsibility will be accepted by the author for any losses anyone may suffer as a result of any mistake or for the consequence of any action you take as a result of reading this blog. If you do suffer a loss, resulting from anything I’ve written, a verbal heartfelt apology will be your only compensation.