How to treat and paint walls when rising damp is present
Your home is your own personal sanctuary and is the place where you retreat at the end of a tiring day to spend time with the people (or pets) who matter most.
However, when it starts showing signs of old age or construction mistakes, it can really lessen the overall serenity.
One common problem that affects many households is “rising damp” which is caused by moisture that affects the aesthetic and structural integrity of a property. It can also cause potential health problems too, if it’s not addressed immediately.
So, if your home is suffering from some of these symptoms, it’s understandable how much you want to quickly fix your walls. But how do you correctly treat and paint them when rising damp is present underneath?
Here’s a quick guide to help you solve rising damp correctly.
Rising damp and its causes
Rising damp occurs when groundwater accesses the lower part of a wall and moves slowly to higher parts of the structure through a capillary action. This capillary action refers to how water is absorbed through permeable building materials and then moves within substances where it can get through, effectively seeping upwards.
Some common signs of rising damp in walls include:
- Tide marks
- Salt fragments
- Black mould
- Wet patches
- Rotting wood
- Flaking plaster
- Peeling of paint and wallpaper
- Musty odour
Most often, rising damp is caused by the failure or non-existence of the property’s damp proof course (DPC) – a barrier made of non-absorbent and water-resistant material that is installed at the lower level of a wall to prevent water from rising through it.
There are also instances where the DPC is intact but bridged, which allows the water to still travel upward. As a result of this construction fault, groundwater is then able to bypass the DPC, leading then to wall dampness.
Importance of treating walls before painting them
Your walls may appear dirty and worn out because of rising damp. So, it’s understandable that you would want to paint them immediately.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to treat all leaks and cracks on them first, so that rising damp doesn’t continue to weaken and damage your walls again.
At Scientific Waterproofing Products (SWP), we offer an extensive range of cement-based waterproofing products that are made from high-quality raw materials and backed by a 10-year product warranty for all of your repair and maintenance needs.
We stock the following products that you can use to effectively treat your walls:
- Drizoro Maxquick Roll – This is a polymer modified mortar, supplied in powder form. Once mixed with water, it produces a decorative coating that is easily placed in a single layer with good waterproofing performance against rising damp, or other water ingress above ground.
- Drizoro Maxrest is a one-component structural repair mortar, made of special cement, additives, and selected aggregates, which provides a thixotropic product with a quick setting time (15 to 20minutes) that does not shrink. It firmly adheres to the surface it is applied on, restoring wall concrete to its original condition.
5 steps to treat and paint your walls correctly
Now that you have an idea of what products to use, let’s move on to how you can properly treat and paint your walls.
Here are the steps to keep in mind if you’re using our quality SWP products:
- Use a Maxquick Roll on previously uncoated surfaces.
- Prepare the area to be treated by removing any loose materials, ensuring a clean and sound surface.
- Repair any damage to the surface using Maxrest.
- Thoroughly wet the entire surface before brush applying Maxquick Roll.
- Allow the single coat to cure for a minimum of 24 hours before the final paint or texture coating is applied. Maxquick Roll is ideal for use under Moroka™, Rockcote™ and other acrylic textured coatings and painted finishes or external cladding to provide a dry surface.
If you want to learn more about our cement-based waterproofing products and how they can solve your rising damp issues, other wall damage, and waterproofing in general, you can consult our local Australian waterproofing specialists.
As always, SWP is committed to providing the right solution to any waterproofing problem or application.
Get the right products to treat and paint your walls
Our team at SWP is here to provide you with the right waterproofing solution for your unique situation. We offer a number of Drizoro cement-based waterproof coatings for all your maintenance or restoration requirements.
So, if you’ve got any questions or issues around waterproofing, or you’d like to find out which product is best for your walls, contact us today!
Aside from local Drizoro resellers and applicators, our products are also available at all Paint Place branches.
Each Paint Place store is locally owned and operated, so you can always guarantee expert advice and professional service. Their specialists can also help you with all your painting project needs, including colour advice and step-by-step guidance.