Hi, what is the best way to weatherproof the walls of an older house? (1920's end of terrace which is quite exposed) - I'm concerned that my brickwork is probably a bit porous as I have had some small penetrating damp problems and they can take a real pounding in severe weather.
2007-12-16 07:00:07 · 9 answers · asked by MARTIN P 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If the house does not have a cavity, the rain soaks into the wall and breathes out of the lime mortar joints. Builders tend to repoint with cement in the mortar. This does not allow the wall to breathe as well as it should and damp patches appear on the inside.
It is not recommended to rake out lime mortar, just the perished parts and then repoint with lime mortar.
DO NOT use paints or Thompsons Water Seal unless you want a damp house.
I went to price a job on a sandstone house, the lady said she's got a damp patch on the living room wall. I told her she had the back repointed. She thought I had x-ray vision and looked through the house because we hadn't been round the back. I explained the above and when I went round, it had all been nicely cement mortar repointed, looked nice but fupped the walls. I decided not to do any work on the house because lime mortar had not been used.
Any problem with damp near the bottom means the surrounding ground area is too high. 1 Million houses will get damp proof course injected in and 999,999 didn't need it.
DO NOT put additives in the mortar. None was put in when it was built.
2007-12-18 10:30:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Thompsons water and the like are rubbish and they just don't work rm is quite right. If you have to do anything then have it repointed preferably with a lime putty mortar as this is not hydroscopic like cement, or with an integral waterproofer additive in your cement mortar (£3 a gallon at builders merchants). Get out htere first and check there aren't obvious places that the waters getting in to cause these damp spots. I'm presuming there's no cavity...
If you want a radical solution that won't harm your building like render would in the long run, batten and timber-clad that end wall.
2007-12-16 10:06:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the other answers give a cheap and easy way of doing it but i would seggest not doing that at all.
the coatings mentioned will break down or have small gaps in which will let water in but not out, this will give you far more of a problem than you have now. old bricks are designed to get soaked and dry relatively quickly.
the pointing may be a problem if it has been redone in cement mortar instead of lime.
rendering/pebble dashing/roughcast etc may be options, in a suitable material, but far more money.
once you paint thats it a lifetime of painting
we presume you mean penetrating all over or in spots rather than near the ground, if higher up than a couple of brick courses ignore the dpc breaking down
2007-12-16 08:09:51 · answer #3 · answered by r m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
grab a drill and grind out the pointing
repoint using febmix or the equivalent in your mix and the handle of a spoon will give you a nice tidy finish.
your pointing is dry and porous and will let the damp in. repoint and the problem should go away.
2007-12-16 09:08:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can try the paint on methods, but??? I would strongly suggest you have your damp course checked, this breaks down over the years and allows damp in. This will get worse as time goes by, so have it checked now, there is no quick fix
Cheers
2007-12-16 16:24:56 · answer #5 · answered by ozicheap Jim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can buy a liquid waterproofer from any hardware store apply a few coats then one watered down exterior paint then 2 or 3 full coats will make it last for at least ten years plus a top make of paint gives you a ten yr guarantee
2007-12-16 07:06:45 · answer #6 · answered by starcp76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wire inline switch fused spur inside and it would be helpful if it is wired into an mcb and protected by an individual trip. If you wire into ringmain and something blows it will affect whatever is on that ringmain.If you are not a qualified electrician, get one and also a minor works certificate, be safe!
2016-05-24 05:43:04 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thompson's water seal is probably your best bet...also you could spray a light colorless silicone sealer on the seams...
2007-12-16 07:08:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the UK you can buy a product called Thompson's water seal ...it is like a liquid silicone ..it looks like water and smells like wd40 ..it needs at least two coats ..start at top and work way down
2007-12-20 04:13:07 · answer #9 · answered by boy boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋