In the big picture there are two ways to introduce a new damp proof course, mechanical and chemical injection.
Mechanical is where the operator removes 2/3 bricks at a time, introduces new plastic sheeting, replaces the bricks and repeats the process along the length of the wall.
Chemical injection is where damp proofing ingredients are introduced into the wall via a “carrier” by injecting into predrilled holes. Traditionally the carrier for many years has been a paraffin based solvent which is injected under pressure or by gravity feed.
Pressure injection, as the name implies, is where the solvent is pumped into the wall via rods inserted into the predrilled hole by using a motor driven pump.
Gravity feed is where the holes are predrilled at a 45% angle into the wall and open ended bottles with nozzles are introduced one to each hole along the wall and the solvent then poured into the open end of the bottle which then gravity feeds into the wall.
More recently cream carriers have superseded paraffin based carriers.
Safeguard Chemicals in England developed the first water based cream carrier “Dryzone” in 2000. Damp Busters (Australia) Pty Ltd introduced it into the Australian market place in 2003.
Australian History: Dryzone was originally offered to our major competitor in Australia and for whatever was rejected by them. We were, at the time, the new kids on the block, being incorporated in 2001, and contacted Safeguard, as they had not approached us, with a view to securing the Dryzone agency. Safeguard agreed to send us samples for testing and to say we were more than impressed with the results would be an understatement.
Previously to 2003 we had been using paraffin based solvents as were all other operators offering chemical injection. Within six months of introducing Dryzone into our range we gave away paraffin based solvent injecting and went solely with Dryzone.
Our major competitors denounced the cream technology claiming that it was not effective especially for Australian conditions. An interesting claim as rising (salt) damp is rising (salt) damp wherever it is found in the World and no more virulent than in English conditions. Now some years later the majority of those same detractors have now introduced creams into their own range none of which have tested to be as efficient as Dryzone which is now being sold in 12 countries around the World and has proven to be the World leading product for eradicating rising (salt) damp by chemical injection.
For us this has proven to be a “Pretty Woman” experience as we have the Australian agency for this premier product with hundreds of successful applications including heritage buildings with not one failure.
Dryzone is injected with a caulking gun by inserting the metal nozzle into pre-drilled 12mm horizontal holes drilled at 110mm centres along the lowest mortar course above ground. Using the same capillary action that the moisture in the ground used to invade the wall in the first place Dryzone slowly and evenly disperses to a 70mm radius around each hole along the mortar course and into the masonry over a 7 day period.
Safeguard have done it again and have now developed over the past 4 years the Dryrod system which supersedes Dryzone.
Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods are the next generation treatment for rising damp. They provide a higher level of performance and quicker installation speed than any other rising damp treatment currently available.
Dryrods are 12mm diameter, 180mm length, fibre rods that contain a powerful water repellent. The patented, and BBA Approved, Dryrod delivery system ensures the correct dose of active ingredient is delivered to the wall every time, permanently eradicating rising damp.
No fuss, no mess, no stress.
The Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods are simply introduced into a series of 12mm holes drilled into the lowest available continuous mortar course. No special equipment is required.
Once the damp-proofing rods are installed, they diffuse the active ingredient deep into the wall before it cures to form a water-repellent barrier. This prevents the damp from rising up the wall.
Number of packs required per 5m stretch of wall:
Wall depth |
4½″ (110 mm) |
9″ (220 mm) |
13½″ (330 mm) |
Number of packs per 5m |
2 |
4 |
12 |
As the latest development in the treatment of rising damp, there are numerous advantages to using Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods:
Naturally, homeowners want the most effective products available to be used to treat rising damp in their properties. Creating the best possible barrier to rising damp minimises moisture in the wall and blocks the build-up of ground salts.
For this reason, Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods have been designed to form an effective damp-proof course in walls of all types and have been tested under conditions of up to 95% saturation, where it has been shown to outperform all tested competitor products.
This is important because no two walls suffering from rising damp are the same. In particular the physical properties of the mortar used to construct walls can vary considerably and this can have a significant influence on the effectiveness of any rising damp treatment.
Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods are effective in a wide range of conditions, including: