Damp Proofing

For a long time now the chemical damp proof course has been seen as the cure for all damp problems. At Maclennan we specify and carry out work on a whole range of buildings. Many of them are traditional built buildings of cob and stone or flint and brick. For these buildings a chemical damp proof course is unsuitable.

MacLennan offer a Best Fit Solution

In Hampshire, Wiltshire Dorset a huge number of traditional built buildings are constructed with cob and stone or flint and brick. For these buildings a chemical damp proof course is unsuitable. We see too many properties with unsuitable dampproofing, unnecessary dampproofing or even damp caused by damp proofing contractors removing traditional finishes in favor of hard cement finishes.

If you think you have an issue with damp you need to instruct a qualified surveyor with experience in traditional buildings.
Free surveys will always end up with a salesman trying to sell damp proofing.
MacLennan will charge to visit the property and write a comprehensive report on all potential causes of the damp issue.
If work is required to remedy the problem the surveyor will specify work that is sympathetic to the type of property and will cure the problem.

MacLennan’s service is backed by our insured guarantees. Our surveyors are fully qualified to the highest standard and have many years of experience in all types of construction.

What’s Your Damp proofing issue?

Condensation

Dry Rot

Timber Decay

Lime Plaster

Traditional or Historic

Rising Damp

For buildings built with walls thicker than 400mm or of chalk, cob, flint or friable stone we would recommend ventilated cavity membranes.

In ordinary brickwork walls up to 350mm thick we would consider a chemical dpc and re plastering to 500mm above the damp using a moisture and salt resistant plaster.

Get in touch with the team today!

Damp Proofing Methods

1 Lime Render

We might recommend the removal of sand cement renders and replacement with a lime render which will allow the walls to breathe and shed moisture, before considering this read our advice on damp and lime render click here for PDF article on this subject.

2 Lime Mortar

MacLennan do have lime mortars that are damp resistant and are suitable for use on walls which are damp but where the cause of the damp has been cured. MacLennan lime plasterers have 20 years of experience with lime mortars and where they are suitable we will specify lime mortar for Historic buildings or buildings that need to “breathe”

3 Rising Damp

For buildings built with walls thicker than 400mm or of chalk, cob, flint or friable stone we would recommend ventilated cavity plaster lath.

4 Cavity Membranes

Ventilated cavity laths allow buildings to ‘breathe’ by letting moisture vapour escape from the surface of the wall through a continuous air gap. They are a form of dry lining but as they are not made of a bio degradable material such as wood or paper ( on plasterboard ) they cannot decay and will last the lifetime of the building. The inside of the property is left completely dry and warmer while the structure is breathing as it should do.

5 Silane Cream

Silane cream is an injected DPC which is installed into brick built houses where an old DPC has failed or has been breached or was never installed.

Our Projects

We have been entrusted with significant contracts such as The Houses of Parliament, Kia Oval, Olympic Park Media Centre, Hilton Hotels, Barratt Homes Head offices, hundreds of multi million pound high end residential properties.