Dampness in the building is unavoidable. As we all know, the walls and floors of the buildings retain some amount of moisture due to the high porosity in mortar joints and bricks. So, by applying suitable damp-proof treatments, the dampness can be prevented from penetrating through the interior space. The structural consultants in Chennai are the best in providing dampness treatment to the exposed walls. We take preventive measures to resolve damping problems that last for longer. Hence, we can classify the proofing treatments into:
- Treatment to walls
- Treatment to a parapet wall
- Treatment to a pitched roof
- Treatment to flat roofs
We can look into each category in-depth and suggest ideal materials for effective damp proofing.
Treatment to walls:
The various treatments given to the wall to prevent dampness are painting, pointing, and plastering. These treatments prevent the permeability of moisture to a certain extent. In the plastering, the mixture made of lime, cement, and sand at the ratio of 1:1:6 is the perfect protective layer for the walls to reduce moisture penetration. These mixtures work effectively even at normal climatic conditions. In the case of heavy rainfall regions, it is ideal to use waterproofing compounds with the cement plaster in the ratio of 4:1 to prevent dampness from entering the inside of the building. You can treat the exposed walls like brick by painting the surface cement paint that is waterproofed. The waterproofing compounds like colorless liquids are also ideal for exposed walls.
Treatment to parapet walls:
The parapet in the walls is the perfect access for the water to enter the interiors. The parapet might have cracks that make them highly porous, and the junction of the parapet walls slowly starts to leak. The lime terracing will be the ideal solution for your roof to prevent the soaking of water. This terracing is made at the right edge of the roof. A 15 cm high triangulated filet is built at the corner of the parapet to prevent the water from falling from the junction. This damp proofing method protects the parapet walls further by applying concrete.
Treatment to a pitched roof:
The pitched roof is liable to rainwater leakage due to insufficient slopeness in the roof, inadequate space of the rainwater gutter, and lack of roof lap in the roofing material. The gutter design for rainwater should be constructed regarding capacity, positioning, accommodation, fixing, and contraction. So, it is ideal to have a slope at the 1:100 ratio and not flatter than that. Similarly, the pitch should be steeper and not straight. It is essential to pay complete supervision while laying the roofing and ensure the tiles are placed beyond the gutter’s edge. Lead flashing will be ideal for preventing leakage and sealing the gaps between the windows, doors, and wall attachments.
Treatment to flat roofs:
Most flat roofs in today’s world include reinforced concrete cement, making them resistant to leakage. In the case of multi-storeyed buildings, the roofs should be insulated thermally, and the roof thickness should be increased through grading. Similarly, painting the roofs with hot bitumen spread can prevent roof distortion.
Here are the effective ways to make your structure damp proof and treat the walls effectively and make them resistant to environmental conditions. Visit Jacob Engineers – the best structural engineering companies in Chennai for all your structural issues. We conduct structural Auditing and provide adoptable solutions. We conduct training on structural design engineering for the young graduates to construct durable buildings.
