What I notice as a Canadian from an area where we build stick frame over concrete basement walls, is how UK properties have little to no surface drainage, and tiny eaves. My house has 20" overhangs and a serious slope away from the house in all directions. Basement is bone dry. Meanwhile in the UK the exterior walls are covered in moss and people wonder why they have "rising damp".
I have 1880 tie bricks....it takes careful management for cold bridging, its not as bad as some might think....its was new to me when I moved in and took a some time to get my head around what was happening with black mold etc....now I understand cold bridging and what the dew point is its much easier. Great vid 👍
Years ago I saw a very interesting documentary on Channel 4, at a London university, in the basement a professor of (let's say) building science attempted to demonstrate building walls out of various materials without a DPC to show water rising by capillary action (the bottoms were standing in water) - in a surprise to everyone - no such capillary action happened. Every time I recount this people accuse me of stupidity and ask why the regulations are the way they are. My obvious reply is "maybe everyone just assumed things work this way?". I am not advocating any change - other than to be more sceptical and inquisitive. In another programme featuring a damp consultant he seemed clear that the real issue is when the ground level outside up against the walls is higher than the inside. An awful lot of damp is condensation to which the unpopular solution is airflow.
@@SomeKidFromBritain It is because you can't have extremely well insulated houses with no draughts with good airflow unless you open vents or windows - thus bringing back the draughts the design sought to eradicate. I realise this is totally self-evident.
Weep vents are more about equalizing the air pressure in the cavity with the external air pressure. Without them, wind driven rain hitting the external wall can migrate through the brick because the external pressure is higher than the cavity pressure.
Ventilation is also very important in older houses with solid walls. If you fit modern double glazed windows that seal well and you cover your downstairs floors with a covering that blocks any airflow (otherwise known as "draughts"), water vapour fron cooking breathing bathing drying clothes indoors etc. will condense on the walls and cause mold. Guttering/downpipes that are blocked blocked will also cause damp in walls especially in upstairs walls. Sorry posted this before you made those points!
If water or whatever if going to come thru that inner cement/concrete slab then youre not going to address that? I understand the bridge effect to wall, damp, but youre just going to leave it and let damp go up into floor?
You can place a DPC between the slab and any flooring material. So long as some air gap remains to keep the surface from getting soaking wet, this will be fine. Wooden suspended floors are built this way - sleeper walls, usually just a few bricks high, a DPC, and a wall plate on top.
Honestly, as a Builder in Gernany who works mainly with Clay and Lime and also do konservativ Building, I follow a quit a lot of UK and US Builders or Resoration Channels and it is just Redicolous. Foam ,Concret Plasicsxof all Sorts were praised and nothing of this Sh ...solves any of this Problems cause just a fewcunderstand the srt of building in the Past. Whant to live healthe in the Future, understand the Past.
Talking about capillary action will bring all sorts to your comments section! I moved into a 3 bed semi of a similar age a few months ago. Previous owners had redone the front garden over the years by piling fresh tarmac over tarmac, raising the ground level to above the ground floor in places. Some very good local landscapers have dug it all away and lowered the height of the new path by a good couple of bricks, and now we wait for the walls to dry themselves out before getting someone in to replaster.
What I notice as a Canadian from an area where we build stick frame over concrete basement walls, is how UK properties have little to no surface drainage, and tiny eaves.
My house has 20" overhangs and a serious slope away from the house in all directions. Basement is bone dry. Meanwhile in the UK the exterior walls are covered in moss and people wonder why they have "rising damp".
I have 1880 tie bricks....it takes careful management for cold bridging, its not as bad as some might think....its was new to me when I moved in and took a some time to get my head around what was happening with black mold etc....now I understand cold bridging and what the dew point is its much easier. Great vid 👍
Years ago I saw a very interesting documentary on Channel 4, at a London university, in the basement a professor of (let's say) building science attempted to demonstrate building walls out of various materials without a DPC to show water rising by capillary action (the bottoms were standing in water) - in a surprise to everyone - no such capillary action happened. Every time I recount this people accuse me of stupidity and ask why the regulations are the way they are. My obvious reply is "maybe everyone just assumed things work this way?". I am not advocating any change - other than to be more sceptical and inquisitive. In another programme featuring a damp consultant he seemed clear that the real issue is when the ground level outside up against the walls is higher than the inside. An awful lot of damp is condensation to which the unpopular solution is airflow.
Any idea of the name of that documentary?
I totally agree on ventilation btw.
Many homes are poorly ventilated.
@SomeKidFromBritain Sadly not, each time I have mentioned it over the years I have tried to search for clues but never got anywhere.
@@reggiedixon2 Ok, well thank you for letting us know it exists
@@SomeKidFromBritain It is because you can't have extremely well insulated houses with no draughts with good airflow unless you open vents or windows - thus bringing back the draughts the design sought to eradicate. I realise this is totally self-evident.
Weep vents are more about equalizing the air pressure in the cavity with the external air pressure. Without them, wind driven rain hitting the external wall can migrate through the brick because the external pressure is higher than the cavity pressure.
Ventilation is also very important in older houses with solid walls. If you fit modern double glazed windows that seal well and you cover your downstairs floors with a covering that blocks any airflow (otherwise known as "draughts"), water vapour fron cooking breathing bathing drying clothes indoors etc. will condense on the walls and cause mold. Guttering/downpipes that are blocked blocked will also cause damp in walls especially in upstairs walls. Sorry posted this before you made those points!
Fit trickle vents to your windows!
Ventilation you can control is great!
(Bless you btw, these videos are great)
If water or whatever if going to come thru that inner cement/concrete slab then youre not going to address that? I understand the bridge effect to wall, damp, but youre just going to leave it and let damp go up into floor?
Don't forget about proper insulation of the foundations along with the floor. You wrote it right.
You can place a DPC between the slab and any flooring material. So long as some air gap remains to keep the surface from getting soaking wet, this will be fine. Wooden suspended floors are built this way - sleeper walls, usually just a few bricks high, a DPC, and a wall plate on top.
Your SDS drill is getting a right hammering. Is it a Bosch?
asbestos in those old bitumen dpc
👍
Honestly, as a Builder in Gernany who works mainly with Clay and Lime and also do konservativ Building, I follow a quit a lot of UK and US Builders or Resoration Channels and it is just Redicolous.
Foam ,Concret Plasicsxof all Sorts were praised and nothing of this Sh ...solves any of this Problems cause just a fewcunderstand the srt of building in the Past. Whant to live healthe in the Future, understand the Past.
@@AMeise-vy4fk well go on... Tell us more. Type in German if easier and Google will translate...
Fix it now, relax later!
Explain why 'rising damp' is non existent in pavements when are sitting on virtually raw dirt.
@@Lecia-lithium nice analogy I dare you to raise the ground level outside your house 4” let’s see if you’re still a non believer then
What would the damp be rising through, on a pavement?
@@richjback exactly
Talking about capillary action will bring all sorts to your comments section!
I moved into a 3 bed semi of a similar age a few months ago. Previous owners had redone the front garden over the years by piling fresh tarmac over tarmac, raising the ground level to above the ground floor in places. Some very good local landscapers have dug it all away and lowered the height of the new path by a good couple of bricks, and now we wait for the walls to dry themselves out before getting someone in to replaster.