A damp proof course in Brighton [DPC] is a water resistant material used during the construction of walls to prevent moisture rising through the walls into the interior of the property. It is laid after a few vertical layers of brickwork at regular intervals. DPC is made out of different materials such as lead sheets, sheets of plastic, mortar with water resistant qualities, stones, etc. It is also found in between the inner and outer leaves of cavity walls. It is meant to thwart the actions of capillary action or water that rises through gravel veins in the soil.
Causes
Capillary action is one cause of dampness. Sometimes it is the only cause; but in most cases, it is a combination of factors such as systems designed to get rid of rainwater are not effective, rising water tables or what is known as hydrostatic pressure, a poor damp proof course, leaking pipes in the wall, leaking roof or condensation.
Consequences
Dampness causes quite a number of problems. It causes wooden floor tiles or any other wooden structures to rot, corrodes steel structures, discolouration of walls, paint peels, plastics and other laminates delaminate; it causes structural damage to the property decreasing the value of a home. Most importantly, mould facilitates the growth of spores which reproduce and spread throughout the property. By the time you spot mould spores causing unsightly patches, it could be indicative of a bigger problem.
Health Concerns
Mould has specific health problems both for human beings and animals. Sometimes it is invisible to the eye but you can detect it through its musty smell. Mould affects people differently depending on their antibodies ability to fight infections such as wheezing, throat and skin irritations, and nasal infections, plus in more serious cases lung disease. That is not an exhaustive list.
The Remedy
Cleaning areas with mould is only a temporary measure. It is better to deal with the cause and rectify the problem. There are various techniques to tackle moisture such as deodorisation, use of dehumidifiers, getting experts to use more exhaustive methods like external trench systems, installing cavity drainage membranes, tanking, plastering using waterproofing materials, or introduction of DPC technologies into the wall, etc. Again, this is not an exhaustive list of remedies.
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