Damp Proofing Or a Damp Proof in Construction Is a Type of a Moisture
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DAMP PROOFING Damp proofing or a damp proof in construction is a type of a moisture control applied to building walls and floors to prevent moisture from passing into the interior spaces. Dampness problems are among the most frequent problem encountered in residences. MATERIAL USED FOR DAMP PROOFING 1. Property of the material An effective damp proofing material should have the following properties 1. It should be impervious. 2. It should be strong and durable and should be capable of withstanding both dead as well as live loads without damage. 3. It should be dimensionally stable 4. It should be free from deliquescent salts like sulphates chlorides and nitrates 5. The material should be reasonably cheap. 6. The material should be such that it is possible to carry out leak proof joining work. 2. Classification of material The materials commonly used to check dampness can be divided into the following four categories a) Flexible material Material like bitumen felts (which may be Hessian based or fibre/glass fibre based), plastic sheeting (polythene sheet) etc b) Semi rigid materials Materials like mastic asphalts or combination of materials or layers. c) Rigid materials Materials like first class bricks, stones, slates, cement concrete etc d) Grout materials Grout consists of cement slurry and acrylic based chemical or polymers. 3. Material used for damp proofing Following are the materials, which are commonly used for damp proofing. 1. Hot bitumen This is a flexible material and is placed on the bedding of concrete or mortar. This material should be applied with a minimum thickness of 3 mm. 2. Mastic asphalt This is a semi rigid material and it forms an excellent impervious layer for damp proofing. The good asphalt is very durable and completely impervious material. It can withstand only very slight distortion. It is liable to squeeze out in very hot climates or under very heavy pressure. It should be laid by experienced men of the specially firms. 3. Bituminous felts This is a flexible material. It is easy to lay and is available in rolls of normal wall width. It is laid on a layer of cement mortar. An overlap of 100 mm is provided at the joints and full overlap is provided at all corners. The laps may be sealed with bituminous if necessary. The bitumen felt can accommodate slight movement. But it is liable to squeeze out under heavy pressure and it offers little resistance to sliding. The material is available in rolls and it should be carefully unrolled, especially in cold weather. 4. Metal sheets The sheets of lead, copper and aluminum can be used as the membranes of damp proofing The lead is a flexible material. The thickness of lead sheets should be such that its weight is not less than 200 N/m2. The lead can be dressed to complex shapes without fracture and it possesses high resistance to sliding action. It is impervious to moisture and it does not squeeze out under ordinary pressure. It resists ordinary corrosion. The surfaces of lead coming in contact with lime and cement are likely to be corroded and hence a coating of bitumen paint of high consistency should protect the metal. The copper is flexible material. It possesses higher tensile strength than that of lead. It is impervious to atmosphere and it does not squeeze out under ordinary pressure. It possesses high resistance to sliding action. The external wall, especially of stones, is likely to be stained when a damp proof course of copper is adopted. The surfaces of copper coming in contact with mortars are likely to be affected. But for normal use, the metal does not require any protective coating. The aluminum sheets can also be used for damp proofing. But they should be protected with a layer of bitumen. 5. Combination of sheets and felts A lead foil is sandwiched between asphalt and bituminous felt. This is known as the lead core and it is found to be economical, durable and efficient. 6. Stone The two courses of sound and dense stones such as granite, slates etc. laid in cement mortar with vertical breaking joint can work as an effective damp proofing ng course. The stones should extend for full width a damp proofing course. The s stones should extend for full width of wall. Something the stones can be fixed, as in case of roof surfaces, on the exposed face of wall etc. 6. Bricks The dense bricks, absorbing water less than 4.5% of their weight, can be used for damp proofing at place where the damp is not excessive. The joints are kept open. Such bricks are widely used when damp proofing course is to inserted in an existing wall. 7. Mortar The mortar to be used for bedding layers can be prepare by mixing 1 part of cement and 3 part of sand by volume. A small quantity of lime is added to increase the workability. For plastering work, the water proof mortar can be prepared. It is prepare by mixing 1 part of cement and 2 part of sand and pulverized alum at rate of 120 N/m3 of sand. In water to be used,.75 N of soft soap is dissolved per litre of water and soap water is added to dry mixed. The mortar thus prepared is used to plaster the surfaces. Alternatively some patented water proofing material such as pudlo, cido, dempro etc. may be added to cement mortar. 8. Cement concrete A cement concrete layer in proportional 1:2:4 is generally provided at the plinth level to work as a damp proofing course. The depth of cement concrete layer varies from 40 mm to 150 mm. it stop the rise of water by capillary action and it found to be effective at places where the damp is not excessive. 9. Plastic sheets The material is made of black polythene having a thickness of about 0.55 mm to 1 mm with usual width of wall and it is available in roll lengths of 30 m. this treatment is relatively cheap but it is not permanent. SELECTION OF MATERIAL FOR D.P.C. The choice of material to function as an effective damp proof course requires a judicious selection. It depends upon the climate and atmospheric conditions, nature of structure and the situation where the D.P.C can be provided. The point to be kept in view while making selection of D.P.C material are briefly discuss below. 1. D.P.C. above ground level For D.P.C above ground level, with wall thickness generally not exceeding 40 cm, any of the material can be used which is describe above. Cement concrete is generally adopted for D.P.C at ground level or plinth level. A 25 to 50 mm thick layer of cement concrete M15 serve the purpose under the normal condition. In case of damp and humid atmosphere richer mix of concrete can be used. The concrete is further made dense by water proofing material in its ingredient during the process of mixing. It is usual to apply two coat of hot bitumen over the dried surface of concrete D.P.C 2. D.P.C material for foor, roofs etc. For greater wall thickness or where D.P.C is laid over large area such as doors and roofs etc. the choice is limited to flexible material which provide lesser number of joints like mastic asphalt, bitumen felt, felt plastic sheets etc. the felts when used should be properly bonded to the surface with joints properly lapped and sealed. 3. D.P.C material for differential thermal movements In parapet walls and other such situation material like mastic asphalts, bitumen felts and metal are recommended. It important to ensure that the D.P.C material is flexible so as to avoid any damage or puncture of material due to differential thermal movement between the material of the roof and parapet wall. 4. D.P.C material for cavity wall In cavity wall construction the cavity over the door or window should be bridge by the flexible material like bitumen felt, strips of lead etc. 5. Expansion and construction joints In case of expansion and construction joints, in R.C.C slab and retaining walls in basement it is it is necessary to provide water bar made out of P.V.C or G.I sheet to seal the joint against passage of sub soil water into building. Damp proofing treatment in building Damp proofing treatment in building can be broadly divided into the following categories 1. Treatment of foundation 2. Treatment of floors 3. Treatment of walls 4. Treatment of parapet wall 5. Treatment to pitched roof 1. Damp proofing treatment to foundation Depending upon the depth of the ground level, the treatment to be given to the foundation can be subdivided into the following four categories. I. Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil II. Treatment to foundation on damp soil III. Treatment to basement in ordinary soil. IV. Treatment to basement in damp soil I. Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil . Building foundation on ordinary soil where the sub soil water table not high is . also liable to get damp. Bricks being porous, brick masonry below ground level can be absorbing moisture from adjacent ground. This moisture travels up from one course to another by capillary action and can make the wall damp for a considerable height. This can be checked by providing DPC at appropriate place. In case of building without basement the base portion for damp proof course . lies at plinth level.