CELLARS & BASEMENTS:
Many properties have basements, cellars and vaults that were never designed for modern living. They can suffer from rising damp and penetrating damp and even flooding, and as a result are not used to their full potential. Converting this valuable space into a dry warm living area can greatly enhance property values and help to utilise the full potential of the available space within a building however it must be achieved by eliminating the ingress of damp which penetrates the floor and walls which are all below ground and DPC level.
The two most common systems are either the application of a cementitious water-proof slurry coat or the installation of a cavity membrane system, linked to a pump dispersal unit.
PALACE DAMPSHIELD
is a single-pack blend of special cements; ultra-fine quartz, pore-blocking water repellent crystals and copolymer based adhesion aids, which readily mix with water to form a pourable brush applied
slurry. This free-flowing mix readily penetrates the open surface masonry capillaries and engages in a reaction with any available free-lime within the substrate forming expansive, but insoluble pore blocking micro-crystalline structures, achieving a secure and permanent key within the masonry sufficient to repel and withstand the level of hydrostatic water pressure likely to be exerted in underground structures such as cellars and basements.
PALACE DAMPSHIELD has been widely used to provide a permanent barrier against penetrating damp in many application both above and below DPC level such as cellars; retaining walls; lift shafts; swimming pools; vaults; tunnels and has also been used to line water tanks and irrigation channels due to its’ suitability for use in contact with potable water.
This type of tanking system provides a cement-based waterproof coating which cures within 24 hours to prevent penetrating damp caused by capillary movement of water moving through earth retaining walls. It can be applied as a slurry coat to well prepared and clean brick-work or masonry forming two layers over the floor and wall, applied by brush or trowel to a depth of about 3 – 4mm. The tanking coatings can then be plastered or rendered over to provide a smooth surface over which a decorative finish can be applied thus completing the conversion of the cellar or basement into a pleasant living or working area.
The benefits of cementitious tanking are:
• It can be used in small areas and on convoluted surfaces.
• Does not require a drainage system or a sump and pump.
• Is versatile and relatively easy to apply in confined spaces.
• Form a bond with any suitably prepared masonry substrate.
• Creates an imperious barrier to the movement of water.
SHOWERS & WET-ROOMS:
The need for containment of moisture within a wet area as opposed to keeping the problem outside of a damp susceptible room such as a basement or cellar requires an entirely different approach to terproofing. The increasing popularity of walk-in showers and wet rooms allied to the need to comply with stricter regulations with regards to leakage control in multi-floor dwellings raises the need for containment of moisture within a wet area and protecting the surrounding structure from the damaging effects of
moisture penetration and ingress.
Modern construction methods now allow for showers and wet-rooms to be constructed within rooms and buildings which are built with timber and other similar moisture sensitive structures. Whilst replacing timber and plaster boards with cement panel boards may over-come some of the risk of moisture degradation, in many cases the conversion of a room from a dry use to a wet use requires a more manageable method which takes account of the original materials in the structure.
Cement based systems such as DAMPSHIELD are only suitable for application onto prepared bare masonry and the panelled timber walls of most modern properties require an altogether different solution. Liquid applied waterproof impermeable membranes provide an easy to apply solution to creating a protective barrier between a frequently wet tiled wall and the substrate beneath.
PALACE SHOWER-TIGHT
is a waterproof barrier system designed to protect water sensitive structures and surfaces in tiled areas where regular and frequent exposure to damp conditions is expected, such as showers, bathrooms, wet-rooms and kitchen utility areas. This multi-component system consists of a surface primer to ensure good adhesion to the substrate; a grey flexible waterproof coating to prevent the passage of moisture and super strong polyester matting to reinforce seams in joints around wall floor junctions and where piping enters and exits the wet zone. This provides a seamless, durable protective membrane to inhibit the passage of moisture from within the tiled area through to surfaces and structures which may be sensitive to the effects of prolonged water migration, such as plaster, render, plasterboards, tile backer boards, timber, suspended floors and plywood overlays.
SHOWER-TIGHT
waterproof membrane offers a convenient system for the preparation of an area to be tiled ensuring
that surrounding substrates and structures remain protected from the risk of any water migration through the subsequently applied tiled surface. The use of waterproof tile adhesives will further guarantee the stability and durabilty of the tiled walls & floors by ensuring that the damaging effect of moisture penetration are revented from causing deterioration to the surrounding wall & floor structure.
