Tanking a House Built Into a Bank - Cavity Drain Type C Tanking System

We see a lot of bank houses (literally houses built into a bank) in the more rural areas that we serve around the Welsh Marches and Shropshire, etc. Traditionally, if the walls have been tanked, it is usually with a render, possibly with some kind of waterproofer mixed in or perhaps a slurry of some type.

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When we get called in it is usually because this has failed at some point in the past and the building has become very damp or possibly even flooded - this is the usual scenario we see. When renovating a bank house, and we can't stress this strongly enough, get the tanking right! Otherwise it can be a constant and expensive problem throughout the life of the building. When everything is stripped back it can be a relatively straightforward process but retrofitting later can potentially be much more complicated and time consuming... In scenarios where tanking is being considered we constantly hear people say, "it's bone dry"... It hardly ever is, and even if it was at that moment in time we still wouldn't trust it to remain so below ground. Our advice is very simply, never cover anything in an old building, especially underground, without first checking it with a damp meter. They are very cheap now and simple to use. Without meaning to preach this could save you a lot of pain later on!

Cavity Drain Type C Waterproofing

A 'from scratch' renovation presents an ideal opportunity to really show the power of a well installed cavity drain system!

A bank house may be treated like a basement conversion in terms of structural waterproofing but with the advantage that at least one side of the property will be at, or above, ground level.

Nothing to break down!

One great benefit here is that, unlike an average cellar cavity drain system, no mechanical pump will normally be required and you can rely on good old 'no moving parts' gravity to ship the water out to a soak-away, drain, watercourse or similar.

There are several ways you can achieve this but here is one way that we have devised for some of our customers. This is perfect where a new concrete slab is planned but may still be feasible with modifications if the current slab is to be retained - you may need advice from an engineer if the slab has to be cut as this may affect the stability of the wall in some cases.

The beauty of this system is that once the cavity drain membrane is correctly installed to the wall you can create the rest of the system from standard and relatively cheap materials from your local builder's merchant. For example, the membrane (shown in blue in the image) sandwiching the insulation and wrapping up to the cavity drain membrane can be standard Visqeen or similar and the land-drain pipe can be 80mm, 100mm or even 150mm; all 'off the shelf' items.

The other advantage with using standard land drainage techniques is that they carry far greater volume than the basement Aquadrain Channels (ideal if your house is built into the side of a Snowdonian!) and they can easily tap into a standard drain set-up as required.

Membrane Waterproofing To Stone

Brick and block-work will normally be suitable for the direct installation of a cavity drainage membrane, obviously assuming that any serious structural defects will be addressed prior to installation, but stone may need a little 'TLC' first. If your wall is constructed of random stone, in an unfinished state, it may be wise to render the wall first. This will benefit the building twofold.

Firstly, it will add to the structural stability of the wall - random stone walls, when cleaned back to the stone blocks can be prone to crumbling and even small pieces coming away behind the membrane can cause problems.

Secondly, a good, strong render (even a scratch coat) will provide far superior anchoring for the self-sealing brick plugs that are used to fix the membranes in place.

Where an Existing Floor Slab is to be Retained

Where there is a perfectly serviceable floor slab already in place, the bank house can, once again, be treated like a basement and channels may be cut into the slab (again advice from an engineer is recommended).

The chief difference between these two scenarios is that in this instance the floor slab is covered with a cavity drain membrane, such as Oldroyd Xv Clear for example or possibly Oldroyd Xv20 Black if the slab is uneven (Xv20 creates more space under the membrane for greater water dispersal), and it is therefore deemed to be a wet slab.

Your entire room, or rooms, will be contained within the membranes and then internal construction of standard studwalls, insulation, plasterboards, etc. can begin inside the protected area.

The aquadrain channels can be connected to pipework very simply, as seals aren't essential below membrane, to take the water away from the building via gravity as with the system above, and that pretty much completes the system! However, it is worth mentioning a couple of things to bear in mind if installing Type C Waterproofing in this way:

Firstly, it may be worth including rodding eyes in the aquadrain channel system in case they get blocked over time and need to be jetted through.

Secondly, and this can be really important, when taking the pipe-work outside to a soak-away, drain or other terminus, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PIPE-WORK IS RODENT PROOF! A mouse chewing through your new cavity membranes and channels could be RATASTROPHIC!!! A result that could be even less funny than that gag...

For information about other forms of damp proofing that may assist you with your renovation/conversion work please see our damp proofing section.

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When we do trade shows, we always get someone who asks...

"So why should I use Conifer Damp Proofing then?" 

Anyone who has ever worked trade shows will have experienced this, the question is normally fairly abrupt, curt and followed by a pause with arms folded - ring any bells anyone? It's a bad start to a conversation, so we have written a page about "why". Hopefully people can read this and, with any luck, decide that they do indeed want to talk to us :o)

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

A Brief History...

Conifer Property Services Ltd and Conifer Basements have been trading successfully since early 2009 but our combined experience goes back, what seems like, way into the depths of time! Our main thrust is obviously damp proofing and basement conversions but because we, as people, have come from different areas of the building industry we can tackle a multitude of construction related projects. 

We usually do this because we have cured a damp problem somewhere and the customer wants us to do other work for them because they've learned to trust us. This breadth of experience makes us better at our specialties because everything affects everything else after all!

Wise Old Sage...

Over the years we have gained a lot of experience with all types of damp proofing work and basement conversions, etc. We have also undertaken large barn conversions complete with full extensions, large concrete and steel retaining walls covered in stone, garden decking installation and design, etc., etc. It seems endless when you look back! It would be easy to say that we've seen it all…however, we see that attitude a lot in the building industry and we believe it can lead to hubris; after all, every day is a school day as the saying goes! Every job is different and we believe they should be treated so. We have to come up with unique solutions all the time, and this is literally true, especially with old buildings that have been built in "interesting ways". We always try to ensure that our customers can have confidence in us. Whatever problems or puzzles may present themselves, we will always find a solution!

Small but Tough!

One of the many benefits that you find in dealing with a small, but professional company (apart from the fact that we actually know and care who you are!) is that the firms that "make it" have had to adapt and problem solve every day of their lives because there is no-one else to call on! This makes this type of company competent and strong! We believe that Conifer Property Services Ltd exhibits these strengths and values and we're proud to be a hard working, small company. 

Lastly on this point, and with all humility, one of the things that we really think speaks to the character and determination of our little company is this: We've had to go many "extra miles" both in terms of service and promotion (not to mention geography!) to survive through the worst recession in living memory; we design and produce all of our own web and marketing material to keep costs down and we trade in the construction industry from a location where we are not indigenous - but we're still here! This commitment, determination and imagination we offer to our customers, (past, present and future) and we sincerely thank you for your business and for choosing Conifer!

Customer Service - Do Unto Others...

That's a big thing for us, we will always do everything we can to make any project as easy as possible for our customers. More than that, we are easily contactable and even if we do miss a call (which isn't often), we'll always get back as soon as possible. We reply to all emails and, this is a big one, courteously too! It seems that the first casualty of the IT age was manners, but that's a discussion for another day :o) Most importantly, we will keep you informed every step along the way, especially if there has been a delay! You will never be left wondering, "What is going on?" Nor will you be dumped in the middle of a project while we buzz off somewhere else! This is a matter of pride and principle for us, simply because we always hope to be treated the same way ourselves. At the end of the day, all we want is to work and earn our living and all you want is your home fixed/improved and to be kept informed... it should always be that simple.

An Englishman's Home is His Castle...

In terms of your property, we start with respect. This begins with boot covers, roll and stroll carpet protectors, sheeting, etc. but goes much deeper than that for us. It is the nature of our business that many of the properties we visit and work on can be older or even very old. We have a genuine interest in old buildings and history generally and it is surprising how this can often provide insight into how to treat some of the problems that old buildings suffer with. We try to retain and even enhance character wherever possible. We also have a lot of experience with reclaimed materials so if you want your 400 year old cottage to be dry and warm, but still look like your 400 year old cottage… call Conifer! On the flip side we have often built character into buildings that have been stripped of theirs, or never had it in the first place. It is our opinion that character should however, be applied with intelligence. What we mean by this is simple, if you are attempting a look and feel from 200 years ago there are ways of achieving this convincingly. Back in the day they may not have had our modern methods of construction but it is fair to say that they never went outside a building and painted the odd brick here and there! Nor did they attack beams with a chainsaw or leave their plastering in a mess to look "distressed" - We find that this only distresses the owner!

Not at all wuff around the edges!

Our small team are all polite, approachable, helpful and trustworthy. We are all doggie people too so don't worry if you have pets - we love 'em!

Thank you for taking the time to read about us, we look forward to working with you...

For more information call Conifer Damp Proofing on 0800 001 4213

We have worked all over the UK but the areas we cover regularly are in the Chester, Cheshire West, Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Shropshire, Welshpool, Wrexham, Clwyd, Powys, Gwynedd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Mid Wales and North Wales region.

Probably the most common question we get asked about membranes...

Can we Fix to Cavity Drain Membranes

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

Hello again faithful readers (we hope it's OK to use the plural!). A common question we get asked after installation is, "Can we fix radiators, shelves, etc. to the cavity drain membranes that Conifer have installed?" ...Or words to that effect!

Obviously we have to be cautious here as EVERY installation is different. However, we feel that some general guidance is possible but always check with your installer before committing to anything.

Consider first the location

What do we mean by this? Well if the cavity drain membrane has been used in a basement situation, that is, underground we would urge extreme caution in making any holes in the tanking membranes, however small. If the application is above ground it is still wise to stay away from any wall/floor joints but, providing that the wall isn't built into a bank or anything, fixing is usually possible. In the perfect world it is of course best to fit radiators, shelves, etc. to walls that have not been membraned but we understand that this is not always possible. 

"So what can we do?" We hear you cry...

Well the answer where a direct fitting to the masonry is concerned is to either use Oldroyd Brick Plugs to create a fixing (these are the plugs we use to fix the cavity drain membranes, they are self-sealing and can take a screw like a Rawl plug) or where this isn't possible use a Rawl plug but fill the hole with silicon before you install the plug. In an above ground scenario, only dealing with rising damp or penetrating damp, this should suffice where a fixing MUST be made. As we have said always check with your installer before you do anything and never drill the cavity drain membrane in a known problem location.

A better solution where possible is to build stud-walling in front of the membrane and fix anything you need to to that. When we construct these we install timber baffles between the timbers at known fixing points (like where radiators are to be situated for example) so that an easy and strong fixing can be made without playing hide and seek for the timber studs! Also, and this is not really damp proofing advice but it may be useful, stay away from plasterboard fixings for anything heavy or likely to be leaned on, particularly if that thing is full of water!

No stud wall thanks, our cottage is nearly 400 years old!

Firstly, lucky you and secondly, we totally agree that character and historic properties should not be ruined by thoughtless building practices. So, when your house builders got back from fighting for, or with, Oliver's Army, they will have built something very much of that period, work that should be retained wherever possible. We have undertaken damp proofing work to a lot of old and very old properties over the years and there is almost always a way to improve their damp proofness and thermal performance carefully and with respect. Often provision can and should be made when the work is in process to provide adequate wall fixings; we suggest that thought should be given to factoring this in prior to commencement.

Ghostly goings-on on haunted building sites... or simply strapping lads flapping about nothing!

Helloooooo from the other side! (Of the keyboard). A few stories about about old buildings and things that go bump in the day for us... It is fairly well accepted, by some at least, that builders tend to see more ghosts than most! Occasionally we get asked by our customers if we have ever experienced anything? Well, we have a few anecdotes, so please lower the lights and prepare to have a good laugh at our expense :o)

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

Shrewsbury

A few years ago we completed a full renovation project on a house and barn near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. The oldest part of the building was a barn built in the early 18th century and, at first, it was quite an unpleasant place to be! We heard slammed doors, bumps, heavy bangs and draggings from upstairs; we wondered what on earth we'd walked into if we're honest! 

The first week was fairly uncomfortable and one day when there were only two of us on site, rattling around in this huge place, I was patching a little area of render behind a closed door in the barn - a door which had not moved at all due to drafts or pressure changes all week - a door which was closed tight and latched. A door which then slammed open right into my face! After I'd finished exclaiming and remonstrating (politely... honest), I realised that the other chap who was on site with me was outside loading a cement mixer 50yds or so away, I could hear him shovelling!

We had been removing the plaster in this area with breakers for some days and knocking through walls, etc. It must have seemed to any watching Caspers that we were knocking hell's bells out of the place! However, the following week we started the damp proofing and building work and generally started to improve the building rather than, seemingly, to attack it and everything changed...

We were on that project for about 4 months and the place could not have felt more homely and welcoming after that first week was over. Clearly the watchers approved of our work!

Ludlow

The oldest basement we have ever worked in, to our knowledge, was in Ludlow, also in Shropshire. It was carved out of the rock and the rock was used to build Ludlow Castle, which is a very early Norman stone castle built in the 1080's I believe - a lovely place if you ever get a chance to visit. 

Anyway, the basement was like stepping back in time, as you walked down the steps the Georgian bricks gave way to some very narrow 2" hand-mades which could have been 17th or even 16th century and then you got down to the rock. 

It was a very nice house and a really pleasant lady that we were working for, however as soon as she went out everything changed! The cellar ceiling was quite low and the visible floorboards of the lounge above were only a few inches overhead so you can imagine what it sounded like when the rocking chair 8" above-head started rocking. Loudly! This accompanied by doors banging and dragging noises again was quite an experience! The first time this happened the effect was so, shall we say pronounced, that I ran out of the basement with tools in my hands thinking that someone had broken into the lady's house! As I dashed into the lounge the rocking chair suddenly slowed to a stop and everything went silent. Pretty creepy eh? When the lady came home everything went back to normal so we carried on and thought no more about it. 

The next day the lady went out again and it all happened again! I went upstairs again, this time not on my own because someone, who will remain nameless, refused to stay down there alone! Again nothing.

When the lady returned we asked her if she'd popped back and we just hadn't noticed and she gave us a knowing look and asked if we had heard any banging or strange noises. We explained what had happened and as it turned out she had recently had a spiritualist in to calm the place down... apparently the disturbance was frightening the lady's little dog! So now the spirits only come out to play when she and her dog are not in and, we have to say, when she went out it was like throwing a switch, the place woke up! Somehow having been told that it really was ghosts and that it was all fine, made it kind of friendly in a way... Although one of our party still refused to work down there on his own! :o)

Dolgellau

There are some buildings that resonate menace. We took a job up in the mountains in Gwynedd, Snowdonia Park, several years ago now, and this was just such a house!

If we're honest we had a nightmare of a time just getting there because the vans barely made it up the track. This house was a good mile from the end of the tarmac and a few miles from its nearest neighbour and, as we approached it perched at the top of the valley - it had "don't come in" written all over it!

What can I say, we needed the money, so off we went - into the unknown! We cracked on for a few days using cavity drain membranes, Oldroyd Xp Plaster Membrane to be precise - just in case you had forgotten that this is damp proofing and property renovation site :o). All the while we perpetually sensed someone watching, it felt like they were right behind your shoulder. The feeling was so intense that we occasional found ourselves turning round to talk to each other only to find that we were alone. In fact one of us, the same nameless one, refused to stay in there on his own - whatta guy!

When we were drawing near to the completion of the job the other shoe dropped - or so we thought... 

We stepped out of the front door, I say 'we' because someone wouldn't stay in there on his own again, and before us was a tiny, really wizened old lady in a dirty coat or cloak. This lady couldn't have been much over 4ft tall, we looked at her and she looked at us. Then she spoke... Her dialect sounded really harsh, not like the Welsh that I am used to hearing, almost like it was from the past... it seemed other-worldly to our dazed minds anyway! We looked at each other and the colour drained! We both thought this is the one! The one where we see something!

The old lady stopped speaking and looked a bit puzzled, she then asked us in perfect English if we were working there and said that she was from a farm a couple of miles up the valley and that she was walking her dog! Suddenly everything was normal again, and I have to say, she was ever so nice. Were we embarrassed? Not at all... well maybe a little... alright we looked like pillocks!

That building had us all jittery over nothing perhaps... but all we had really proved was that the neighbours, at least, were still alive!

Thank you for your time!

We hope you have enjoyed our little stories. I dare say that everything that has happened to us can probably be explained rationally but we think that what really matters is that old buildings can seem to have moods, not to mention stories to tell and they are always fascinating... We probably just wasted 5 minutes of your time but thank you for reading :o)

Drybase Flex Membrane and Adhesive

HI! It's been a long time since we've added to our damp proofing blog but over the last few years there have been materials advances that we really needed to talk about but haven't had the time with the usual pressure of work! So here goes my holiday... but hopefully it will be worth it if it helps people solve damp problems in their homes and, with any luck, that will lead to business for Conifer too and we can all help each other so here goes!

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

Drybase Flex Membrane

We've been installers of membrane damp proofing across the Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Wrexham, Clwyd, Powys, Gwynedd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Mid Wales and North Wales, Chester, Cheshire, Telford, Oswestry and Shropshire areas for many, many years now; gone grey doing it! Or bald, depending on which of the company directors you talk to :o) We added Drybase Flex Membrane damp proofing to our bag-of-tricks a couple of years or so ago (2015) and it is ideal for certain situations with damp brick walls, or damp stone walls if they are fairly neat. As you can see from the, rather deadly, 'before and after' shot at the top of the page, it's pretty effective for contaminated walls! That job was plastered directly on to the membrane and it made for a very tidy application! It is also very useful for damp proofing to concrete slabs as a DPM (damp proof membrane). The main advantage that it has over loose-laid membranes is that it is very firmly glued in place with Drybase Flex Adhesive. This gives us or any home-owner or builder a lot more options in terms of possible floor finishes! Once laid on concrete floor it can be tiled, carpeted, boarded, laminated or otherwise covered with practically any floor finish. However, please note that if carpet is to be used we always insist on the grippers being glued down and not nailed through the membrane! That may sound blindingly obvious but it happens!

The posted image, if you'll forgive the appalling photography, actually shows a neat DPM (damp proof membrane) job using the Drybase Flex Membrane. The whole floor of this lounge in an old stone cottage in Aberdovey (Aberdyfi), Mid Wales was a concrete slab suffering with a lot of penetrating dampness more so from the walls than from underneath. 

The Drybase DPM completely solved the problem and created a nice up-lap for connection to the Oldroyd Xp Plaster Membrane on the walls. The walls were then plasterboarded using the 'dot and dab' method and plaster skimmed as you see from the picture. The walls were showing severe rising damp water marks but the plaster itself was structurally very strong. The Oldroyd went straight over the old plaster and saved a lot of mess as well as creating two cavities (one created by the cavity drain membrane itself and another by the drywall adhesive fixing the plasterboards) to reduce heat loss and cold-bridging. Win-Win for the customer!

Drybase Flex Membrane is a highly durable and flexible damp proofing membrane for direct application to walls that have been affected by dampness and salt contamination. The flexible nature of the membrane can also make it the ideal choice for walls where retaining some of the 'roll and shape' in the wall is desirable due to the character and age of the building. The fleece lined membrane can be applied to walls using the the same specially formulated Drybase Flex Adhesive used for brick wall fixing.

The great advantage with this type of membrane damp proofing system when used on walls is that it can be plastered onto directly, creating a versatile solution to the problem of damp walls when it is not possible to stop the damp at its source. This can be especially useful where a cavity drain membrane such as Oldroyd Xp Plaster Membrane is not practical due to drainage or substrate issues.

Drybase Flex Adhesive

Drybase Flex Adhesive is a polymer modified cement-based product. We have found that the adhesive is an excellent waterproofer in its own right and when the completely impervious membrane is added to the system it gives a protective barrier you can have confidence in.

For more information visit our Drybase Flex Membrane damp proofing page.

Damp Proofing Blooper Reel!

Damp Proofing Out-takes, Damp Horses and Cheeky Pensioners…

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

We thought we'd share a light-hearted look at some of the more humorous enquiries we've encountered over the years.

Recently we had a flurry of e-mails from suppliers offering discounts on 'basment conversion' products. It reminded us of an enquiry we received from someone who had mis-read one of our vans and thought we offered 'damp ROOFING'. 

A little further digging and we managed to find a few more amusing slip-ups, so here are our top 5:

1. Typos: basment conversions, damproofing and membrain are the most common!

2. "I have a severe problem with damp in my horse." (Perhaps a vet…?)

3. "I need someone to install a Jacuzzi spa bath, double sink, double shower and WC, tile walls and floor (marble) and all electrics. The room is 15ftx19ft approx. I am a pensioner and on a tight budget so would like someone to do the work for £100 or less. (Yes, this was for real. Wish my 'tight budget' allowed for huge marble luxury bathrooms, don't you?)

4. "My husband fell through the loft and wrecked his Artex." (Ouch, sounds painful!)

5. "Ah, it says "Damp Roofing" on your van, can you come and look at our roof please?" (Not sure why you'd want a DAMP roof – aren't they all damp enough? Must be a British thing!)

Thank you for reading, and remember if you need assistance with damproofing (or even damp proofing) or your 'basment' needs waterproofing, find us online at www.coniferbasements.co.uk or call 01650 531 694. - Probably best not call us with any wet horses though, can't really help with that :o)

Cavity Drain Membrane Waterproofing vs Traditional Tanking

Benefits of Cavity Drain Membrane Waterproofing

Oldroyd Cavity Drain Membranes

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)
  

Hello again! As you will be aware if you have glanced through our web site, we get involved in all sorts of damp proofing and use all sorts of materials to treat the various problems we come across. We speak to people all over the country and it is fair to say that the existence of most of the membranes we use is still not widely known. The broad perception of damp proofing is still that you get your walls injected and that's it!

For some applications injection and waterproof render, or one of our new damp resistant plasters, is still the weapon of choice of course. We normally install Dryzone Dryrods these days as they get exactly the right amount of product into the wall. Also, when tanking a basement or any wall built into a bank the Vandex slurry systems we install can be ideal but there is a suite of materials that can cover both of these functions when conditions are right.

So if you are considering getting some damp/waterproofing work carried out there can be several advantages to a membrane system. We thought we would list some of them for your consideration:

The Oldroyd Cavity Drain Membrane System provides the following benefits:

1) There is no pressure on the damp proofing system or the structure, the water is simply allowed to follow the easy path back to the ground;

2) The walls are still allowed to breathe as there is at least 5 litres of air per sqm (often more) behind the membrane, this space can be sealed or vented as required;

3) Environmental note: In addition to its damp proofing properties, the membrane creates a small air gap, due to its profiled shape; this improves the U-Value of the wall. If unventilated, the air gap is not big enough to allow convection and so is an effective reducer of heat loss (double glazing works in a similar way). This coupled with plasterboard fitted using the 'dot and dab' method (if appropriate) gives two cavities in an otherwise solid wall which is beneficial in two ways.

Firstly the cavities create a thermal barrier, as stated, which helps with the energy efficiency of the building.

Secondly, because the surface of the wall is not cold due to this cushion of air, this greatly combats condensation which is of course a major cause of the more obvious signs of dampness such as mould and smells; Even without secondary insulation the membrane system will help to make the building more 'energy efficient' and take away the cold clamminess to the exterior walls making them feel warmer to the touch.

This coupled with the eradication of damp and associated smells in the atmosphere all helps to make a healthier, more comfortable environment. Oldroyd membranes are made of 70% recycled material and are recyclable again at the end of their intended life-spans (more than 50 years expected).

4) The Oldroyd membrane system is resistant to sulphate attack so all internal finishes will be fully protected from hydroscopic salts for decades.

5) Often, little or no preparation is required, the membrane can go straight over existing plasters and wall coverings as long as they are reasonably sound. As well as saving a lot of mess and waste, removing a decent, if damp, render can often leave the wall in a weaker state;

6) Traditional cementitious methods are mixed by hand and as such are susceptible to imperfections, they are constantly under pressure to repel water which also retains the water in the wall (this can lead to frost damage, structural loading and other problems) and also they have a much shorter intended lifespan – Oldroyd membranes have none of these problems;

7) Membranes are flexible and will not crack or leak during the seasonal movement usually found in old buildings. If a traditional, waterproof render cracks water will find a way through to the plaster again and cause dampness issues.

We also install the fairly new Drybase Flex Membrane system which also has unique benefits listed below:

1) The Drybase Flex Membrane System is resistant to sulphate attack so all internal finishes will be fully protected from hydroscopic salts for decades;

2) The membrane is chiefly designed to stick to exposed brickwork, but on occasion little or no preparation is required as the membrane can go straight over existing plasters and wall coverings as long as they are structurally sound and free of paint, etc. - a judgement should be made on this prior to commencement. As well as saving a lot of mess and waste, removing a decent, if damp, render can often leave the wall in a weaker state;

3) Traditional cementitious methods are mixed by hand and as such are susceptible to imperfections, they are constantly under pressure to repel water which also retains the water in the wall (this can lead to frost damage and other problems) and also they have a much shorter intended lifespan – Drybase membranes have none of these potential problems;

4) Membranes are flexible and will not crack or leak during the seasonal movement usually found in old buildings. If a traditional, waterproof render cracks water will find a way through to the plaster again and cause dampness issues. The fleece on the front and back of the Drybase Flex Membrane acts as a decoupling agent allowing slippage to further resist possible plaster cracking due to structural movement;

We hope this information helps and may offer more options to curing difficult damp related problems. For more information see our damp proofing section.