Any building that you see retains some moisture after a heavy storm or rain. The primary reason for the dampness or retention of moisture in the wall is due to the faulty design, construction, or low-quality construction material. Thus, the dampness impacts on the durability of the building. The structural design companies in Chennai are the best in damp proofing. We have in-depth knowledge about damp proofing and ensure that the damp proofing course is laid across the structure uniformly.
So, damp proofing refers to the moisture control material applied on the structure’s walls and floors that resist the passage of water and moisture without hydraulic pressure. Structural auditing identifies the seepage in walls and ceilings that are poorly constructed. Thus, after identification engineers will suggest suitable methods to reform the given structure. Hence, in this post, let us see some different methods of damp proofing to prevent the structure from leaking.
Membrane damp proofing:
The membrane damp proofing is one of the types, where the water repellent material is used in the membrane or protective layer of the proofing. This proofing method is applied between the source of dampness and the structure adjoining it. The damp proofing materials used for proofing are cement concrete, bituminous felts, epoxy, mastic asphalt, plastic, and polymers. These materials create a stud formation on the walls, ceiling, and floor, developing an air gap between the source and structure. This air gap evaporates the water or the moisture seeping through the structure by leaving the wall unobstructed. The proofing is applied either horizontally or vertically, depending on the source of dampness.
Integral damp proofing:
This type of proofing course includes compounds for proofing mixed with concrete to increase the permeability. The proofing compounds are available in liquid and powder form. The integral damping compounds made from clay, lime or sand have extraordinary properties that fill the empty spaces in the concrete and make the structure more resistant to moisture. Some of the engineering consultantsuse calcium chloride, alkaline silicates, and aluminimum sulphate to produce waterproof concrete and damp proofing to the walls and floors. However, the amount of waterproofing compounds added to the concrete depends on the manufacturer’s requirements.
Surface treatment:
Thirdly, the surface treatment is essential to make the walls and floors less permeable for the moisture to find its way through the pores. So, filling these pores through the surface treatment prevents moisture from entering the structures. So, the structural engineers use water repellent chemicals like stearates and calcium and aluminium oleates in the surface treatment process. Paints, varnishes, bituminous solution, and cement coating fall under surface treatment, and most of thestructural design consultants use lime-cement plaster for surface treatment. The lime-cement surface treatment includes compounds like lime, cement, and sand in the ratio of 1:1:6, which offers effective damp proofing for the building.
Hence, these are the popular damp proofing methods and choose the appropriate one for your building through Jacob Engineers. Jacob Engineers conduct professional training on structural design engineering to construct durable buildings.