INFO

Rising damp

Rising damp in masonry is a phenomenon that is due to the capillarity of building materials. Every mineral building material has capillarity, so also all natural stones, concrete, bricks, etc. If the building material itself has little or no capillarity (e.g. granite), rising masonry moisture finds an easily accessible way upwards via mortar joints. In the base and foundation area or in the lower area of walls, rising water causes consequential damage that creates a very unpleasant living climate. Salts transported from the soil cause the plaster to flake off, as the salts crystallise on the surface after the water has evaporated. The water-filled capillaries lead to frost damage and peeling of paintwork. Damage caused by the rising damp also frequently manifests itself in the form of biological corrosion, i.e. infestation of the masonry parts with mould, fungal growth, algae, sponge or other microorganisms. The over-acidification of the alkaline building material by rising damp leads to capillary enlargement and thus to porosity, which is associated with increased water transport. The application of *KRICHEX* also acts as stone consolidation.

Damage

Damage caused by rising damp and only emerging above the barrier plaster, minor damage for the time being. Crystallised salts visible on the exterior wall and, after the beginning of the plaster spalling, rapid increase in damage due to better evaporation of the rising damp in the plaster damage that has occurred.

KRICHEX processing

Drilling

Drilling the injector holes Ø 16 mm at an angle of 45 Wall thickness = Drill hole depth

Blow out

blowing out the drill holes to remove the drill dust

Ventilate

Aerate and pre-dry the boreholes (approx. 15 - 20 min.) to enable faster penetration of the *KRICHEX* capillary barrier fluid.

Put on

Putting on the *KRICHEX* bottles with special outlet tube

Drilling the boreholes

In this case, drill the boreholes below the interior floor level and attach *KRICHEX* injection bottles on the outside. Floor level upper edge inside Drill to the left side of the window reveal. No renovation to the right of the window for documentation of the effectiveness.

Result of the wall drying carried out

Clearly visible INSULATION FRONTIER at half plinth height to left window reveal. With non-insulated right plinth part clearly visible salt efflorescence of the still rising moisture, despite new plastering. intensified visible already after one year, despite new plinth plastering right from left window reveal no *KRICHEX* capillary water barrier clearly visible water rise with efflorescence left - half plinth height installed *KRICHEX* capillary water barrier,

The hammering in of sheets
mechanical system

Disadvantages: Only possible from the first mortar joint above the floor level on the outside; only feasible in brickwork and the straight mortar joint; corner insulation problematic; risk of settlement cracks Plaster is removed along the entire length of the sheet metal seal to be created so that the masonry joint is exposed. Then a scaffolding frame is anchored in the masonry, which carries a percussion device. By means of this device, laterally overlapping metal sheets are driven into the mortar joint in the entire thickness of the masonry (not possible with risers). This method is very cost-intensive and has its limits in buildings with several storeys, as settlement cracks cannot be ruled out. The insulation of curves or corners can only be achieved with chemical horizontal barriers or at enormous cost. In order to insulate below floor level, excavation is necessary on the inside and outside. High additional costs for restoration and during this time the building site is not habitable.

Remove the plaster and dry out the masonry.

Despite the often erroneous explanation that knocking off plaster leads to drying out of the masonry, this photo (see upper edge of cellar window) disproves that knocking off plaster is not an effective way of drying out, but rather allows more water to pass through the wall by better evaporation of the capillary moisture (plaster = filter). More salt efflorescence, over-acidification, capillary enlargement are the result.

Drying with the help of plaster additives.

In the area of approx. 1.30 m newly plastered with plaster additive against moisture (e.g. Baurex). The picture proves that plasters with the above additives are not breathable as promised, but dense (barrier plaster). Moisture penetrates above this renovated plaster layer, no effective drainage. Plaster damage is the result.

Cut-through methods with foil are only possible above ground level.

In this case, floor level inside is below ground level outside = cold bridges. No effective drainage in the floor area. and above filling the cut joint with mortar is very problematic, risk of settlement cracks.

Drying with the use of a so-called "insulating plaster" or thermal plaster.

Clearly visible that moisture rises above the new plaster and that it is not breathable (barrier plaster).

Horizontal barriers

Electro-osmotic systems
a) active
b) passive
Mechanical systems
a) Hammering in steel sheets
b) Cutting through walls and inserting insulating foils etc.
Chemical systems
a) water-soluble silicification
b) Permanently elastic resins (e.g. *KRICHEX*)

In the active version of electroosmosis, an attempt is made to stop or reverse the movement of the water in the masonry by applying an external voltage. For this purpose, electrodes are anchored in the masonry, which are supplied by a power source.

In passive electroosmosis, an attempt is made to build up a galvanic element opposing the field in the masonry in order to counteract the undesired electrophysical support of the water transport. For this purpose, different materials must be used as anode and cathode, which have different normal potentials according to their position in the electro-osmotic voltage series. The resulting voltage should act on the direction of flow of the water in the masonry. All metals in the masonry, such as dowels, fastenings for gutters, lightning conductors, pipes, etc., must be removed or insulated accordingly before installation. (Caution with Cu electrodes and if zinc or galvanised pipes and sheets are present - "electrolysis" = migration of the zinc parts to the CU electrode occurs, consequence: holey pipes or sheets). The electro-osmotic (active and passive) systems are theoretically functional, but in practice it has been shown that they are very susceptible to failure and therefore have a lower success rate.

As far as mechanical systems are concerned, they can only be used to a limited extent (only in brickwork) and the insulation height can only be used above ground or floor level. These systems are also very labour-intensive, involve a lot of dirt and a high risk of structural damage (settlement cracks), and therefore there is a high risk of further damage to the insulation layer. Furthermore, existing pipelines (risers) and reinforcement bars can be destroyed or have to be left out, and no continuous insulation is possible! However, they are effective and functional systems when properly applied.

The systems with the least amount of work (quick processing without static problems) are the chemical ones.

Silicification (water glass solutions) has been known for over 30 years. However, here, as drying progresses, a hardening of the insulating material occurs, the powdery silica (is hygroscopic, i.e. attracts water again) is formed by further water release and the chlorides, nitrates and sulphates present in the rain and groundwater and is then no longer effective as a horizontal barrier. Therefore, water glass solutions (silicification) cannot be expected to provide permanent drainage (temporary solution). Silicification can only be used in slightly damp masonry!

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Capillary water barrier

For the troubleshooting we have for the rising damp on the object our product Krichex, which is effective under warranty regardless of the moisture and salt load.

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Pressure water barrier

For pressurized water damage we have had our pressurised water barrier range in the program for many years.

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Biological wall covering

After the walls have been renovated and dried, we can offer our customers our biological wall covering ÖKO-DEKOR for the interior walls, with which one has an infinite number of design possibilities.

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