Hello,
our construction project is almost complete, but we have an issue with a damp band around the entire house. At first, we thought it was because the ground floor ceiling was still drying, but now the brickwork is almost a year old (and the concrete slab was poured even earlier), and the dampness is still there. Our builder also said at the beginning that this would disappear within six months, but now he claims that it is a problem with the bricks. I am no expert, but it seems more likely to me that there is an error by the mason (are any damp-proof courses or membranes installed here?).
Our house handover is coming up soon, and understandably I want to have this clarified beforehand 😉
Thank you very much in advance!
our construction project is almost complete, but we have an issue with a damp band around the entire house. At first, we thought it was because the ground floor ceiling was still drying, but now the brickwork is almost a year old (and the concrete slab was poured even earlier), and the dampness is still there. Our builder also said at the beginning that this would disappear within six months, but now he claims that it is a problem with the bricks. I am no expert, but it seems more likely to me that there is an error by the mason (are any damp-proof courses or membranes installed here?).
Our house handover is coming up soon, and understandably I want to have this clarified beforehand 😉
Thank you very much in advance!
M
MadMo300015 Mar 2019 14:08Hello,
thank you very much for the feedback. The funny thing with us is that we had so many delays during construction that it took ages before the screed was poured, so it’s hard to imagine that there was any residual moisture left. However, we did conduct moisture measurements inside, and it was completely dry there weeks before the screed was poured.
Now, asking very naively, do clinker brick exterior walls also have drainage or ventilation joints? It seems quite significant at the extensions (ventilation cover / outdoor faucets) – if vertical joints for ventilation or similar were omitted there, that might be the issue (I’ll have to check with a ladder).
thank you very much for the feedback. The funny thing with us is that we had so many delays during construction that it took ages before the screed was poured, so it’s hard to imagine that there was any residual moisture left. However, we did conduct moisture measurements inside, and it was completely dry there weeks before the screed was poured.
Now, asking very naively, do clinker brick exterior walls also have drainage or ventilation joints? It seems quite significant at the extensions (ventilation cover / outdoor faucets) – if vertical joints for ventilation or similar were omitted there, that might be the issue (I’ll have to check with a ladder).
N
nordanney15 Mar 2019 14:17MadMo3000 schrieb:
I'm asking this from a very basic perspective: do brick veneer exterior walls also have drainage/ventilation joints? It seems quite noticeable with the extensions (air intake and exhaust vents, water taps). If vertical joints were omitted for ventilation or similar reasons, that might be the right approach (I’ll have to check with a ladder).The question is whether a cavity for ventilation is present or not. We didn’t have one, and therefore no openings in the facade.M
MadMo300016 Mar 2019 14:33So, despite the rain and storm, I went to the construction site with a ladder and can now definitely confirm that we have vertical openings in the joints at mid-height...
I have read in several articles online that this is no longer considered standard practice, and that exterior walls should be fully sealed...
It seems to me that moisture forms at these points and then spreads on the outside of the facade through capillary action (it also moves upward) – I can’t really think of a better explanation right now?!
It would be possible to close the gaps in the facade afterwards, but is there any expert advice against this?
Best regards
I have read in several articles online that this is no longer considered standard practice, and that exterior walls should be fully sealed...
It seems to me that moisture forms at these points and then spreads on the outside of the facade through capillary action (it also moves upward) – I can’t really think of a better explanation right now?!
It would be possible to close the gaps in the facade afterwards, but is there any expert advice against this?
Best regards
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