What is salt damp? Salt damp occurs when moisture is drawn up from the soil under a stone (or brick) wall. The water carries with it salts that over time compromise the strength and integrity of the stone.
The presence of salt damp can be noticed as crumbly stone work, usually isolated to the lower sections of walls. There are sometimes water marks and or a white powdery residue on the surface of effected areas. There can also be a musty damp smell evident.
A problem that many over look with salt damp is that in some cases where the earth is dry, and there is no moisture reading present – the damage that the salt damp has already done to the wall still remains.
Salt damp effected walls become weak and crumble easily. Having a band of damaged, weak stone along the bottom of weight baring walls is very bad news for a home. Salt damp can be of structural concern with the bottoms of external walls crumbling and flaking away.
Salt damp also cause’s problems to internal walls, with plaster coming away from stonework and paint peeling and flaking from plaster as salt damp is expelled from the wall in the form of salt crystals or fluorescents.
There is also health concerns connected with damp. While there is moisture present in the walls this can allow mould, mildew and fungus growth which has been linked to allergies, asthma, respiratory infection and sinus problems experienced by home occupants.
Salt damp treatment At Simply Stone we offer a complete salt damp solution. First we remove the damaged stone completely. This is done in small sections to maintain the structural integrity of the wall. Then we install a plastic damp course that provides a physical barrier to prevent damp from reoccurring. We then rebuild the effected areas using the highest quality new materials. Generally the external walls are rebuilt with stone to match the existing. Internal walls are rebuilt with brick to ensure a strong and structurally superior wall. |
