When masonry walls begin to crumble, age and deteriorate, they can quickly lose their ability to repel moisture and water. Once masonry has lost its waterproofing, then rising damp and penetrating damp can seriously begin to damage your property.

Keeping your masonry waterproofing fully sealed is therefore an important task for any homeowner. If you’re wondering how to keep your home damp free throughout the year, here’s our guide to the best ways to keep your masonry fully waterproofed.

What Is Masonry Waterproofing?

Masonry waterproofing is the term used to describe how masonry walls, whether constructed from brick, concrete or other materials, have been effectively sealed in order to create a protective barrier against moisture and water.

There are several different methods of masonry waterproofing that homeowners can have installed, but the goal of all these methods is to keep water outside and to keep your home dry on the inside – no matter how hard it’s raining. Masonry waterproofing stops your home from being affected by potentially serious problems such as damp or mould, while in many cases providing an extra layer of insulation that helps to save energy while keeping your house warm.

The most popular methods of masonry waterproofing include:

  • Applying waterproofing agents
  • Repairing broken masonry
  • Installing a damp proof course
  • ‘Tanking’

Let’s take a closer look at the most common ways to keep masonry waterproofed.

Applying Waterproofing Agents

One of the simplest methods of masonry waterproofing is to apply waterproofing agents to external walls. There are many different types of waterproofing agents available, but the best products will help to waterproof your masonry walls for many years.

Waterproofing agents include waterproof masonry creams and resins, which when properly applied allow masonry to be fully sealed. This creates an effective waterproof barrier that repels rain and stops moisture from seeping into masonry walls.

Repairing Broken Masonry

If you’re experiencing leaks or have noticed signs of damp inside or outside the house, there’s a high chance that masonry has broken or deteriorated. Brickwork may have been damaged, mortar might have crumbled or important structural elements such as cavity wall ties may have broken.

All of these problems can result in water seeping into the home through gaps in broken masonry. If this happens, it’s important to identify where the masonry has failed before having it fixed professionally. Ensuring that any gaps in the masonry have been filled in, or that any broken or damaged bricks have been repaired or replaced helps to ensure that your walls are fully waterproofed.

On a wider scale, it’s also important to keep external and internal features of your home, such as tiles, gutters, windows and doors, well maintained and fully sealed in order to avoid water finding a way into the brickwork or inside your home.

Installing a Chemical Damp Proof Course

A chemical damp proof course is an excellent way to waterproof masonry walls. When properly installed, a DPC stops potentially dangerous issues such as rising and penetrating damp from affecting a property.

A chemical damp proof course can be injected directly into a masonry wall, and it’s an effective and long-term option that helps homeowners keep their property fully waterproofed. It’s particularly effective when used in conjunction with other methods of waterproofing, such as coating masonry walls with waterproofing agents and ensuring your home is fully sealed against damp.

‘Tanking’

‘Tanking’ is a process designed to completely seal and waterproof masonry walls below ground level. It’s an option commonly used to seal areas of a home such as a basement or bottom floor, with the goal being to create a tank-like barrier that stops water from seeping into the building.

There are several ways to carry out ‘tanking’, but the most common method is to strip back a masonry wall, before applying waterproofing agents and plastering the wall to finish and fully seal it.

Contact Danford, Brewer & Ives for More Information About Masonry Waterproofing

Masonry waterproofing is essential if you want to keep your home dry throughout the year. We recommend consulting a damp proofing specialist for expert advice on the best method of masonry waterproofing for your property.

For more information on masonry waterproofing, please contact our friendly team on 01765 804050 or fill in our online contact form. Our experienced specialists will be on hand, ready to offer expert advice tailored to your needs or to arrange a thorough survey of your home.