FROZEN CHEMICAL DAMP-COURSE SYSTEM

The Damp-Stick system can achieve significant cuts in labour and material costs when compared with any other chemical damp-coursing technique. It is effective and highly adaptable and produces a complete water-repellent barrier.

ADVANTAGES OF USING DAMP-STICK

1 Technically diffusion is the most effective method for installation of chemical damp-courses.
2 The Damp-Stick packs can be inserted directly into the mortar joints, which are the major pathways for any rising damp.
3 Capillary action ensures that the released siliconates follow the natural pathways of the rising damp itself, an automatic benefit that ensures the damp course is deposited exactly where it can be most effective.
4 The siliconates in their frozen form are easily handled and quick to apply. Direct material and labour costs are thus substantially reduced.
5 Correct dosage can be assured at all points – diffusion prevents the collection of solution in large unsuspected cavities.
6 Fluid containers and bulky pressure equipment are not required.
7 There are no spillable liquids to create a health and safety hazard or damage decorations or furnishings, etc.
8 No flammable liquids are involved ensuring the Damp-Stick process is totally free of fire hazard.
9 All walls can usually be treated from one side only, external walls generally from the outside of the building.
10 Odourless.

PREPARATION

The only tools required are a hammer drill, a 22mm drill bit, sufficient packs of Damp-Sticks and the means of freezing the packs for 48 hours. Damp-Sticks are supplied in boxes of 250, which is sufficient to treat 7.5m of 225mm brick or stone walling.

Place the boxes in a deep freeze for approximately 48 hours until the Damp-Sticks are FROZEN SOLID.

All defective internal plasterwork should be removed to a minimum height of one metre. External sand/cement render should be removed from ground level to a minimum height of 200mm.

Walling of any thickness may be treated with the Damp-Stick system, simply ensure the holes are drilled to the appropriate depth (to within 25mm of wall thickness) and follow the instructions below.

DECIDING WHERE TO DRILL

The following procedure must be carried out for the satisfactory installation of the Damp-Stick system.

Deciding which height to insert the DPC system.

A. If the internal floor is concrete, drill into nearest mortar joint above the finished floor level (75mm approx).

Drilling may be carried out internally or externally from one side only (see 1 & 2).

Figure 1: Internal Drilling	Figure 2: External Drilling

B. If the internal floor is a suspended timber floor, drill internally as low as possible or externally 150mm above ground level (see 3 & 4).

Figure 3: Internal Drilling	Figure 4: External Drilling

It is important that the external ground level is a minimum of 150mm below the internal finished floor level (see 5).

	Verticals should be inserted to stop dampness coming along the top of the newly inserted DPC from areas that have not been damp proofed (see 6).
Figure 6: Vertical DPC between two houses

DRILLING

Drilling is carried out using a 22mm diameter masonry bit. Drill as level as possible through the mortar joint at 110mm centres to within 25mm of the wall thickness (see 7 & 8).

Figure 7: Drilling 113mm centres	Figure 8: Drilling to within 25mm of wall thickness

INSERTING THE DAMP-STICK

EACH HOLE MUST RECEIVE FOUR APPLICATIONS AS FOLLOWS.

1 Cut off the end of the frozen Damp-Stick pack.
2 Gently squeeze out the frozen Damp-Stick and insert into the pre-drilled hole. Sufficient Damp-Stick must be used to fill the hole. Repeat the process until all the holes have been filled – this is the first application.
3 Once the Damp-Stick has completely dissolved, repeat the process until a total of FOUR applications have been made.
4 After the first application has been made the remaining three applications MUST be inserted within the same day.

**IT IS ADVISABLE TO WEAR RUBBER GLOVES WHEN HANDLING THE DAMP-STICKS**

REMEDIAL WORK

Some 'salting' may occur during the drying out period. If the plaster is sound and is to remain, these salts should be removed from the surface of the wall with a dry brush. Should the plaster need to be replaced (due to damage caused by the original dampness), re-plastering MUST be carried out using sharp washed sand and cement (3:1 mix) and a waterproof additive used.

If external sand/cement rendering is to be reinstated, a waterproof additive must be used in the render.

Redecoration should be delayed for as long as possible (a minimum of 3 months should be allowed if the area is to be wall papered).