Porous masonry can be one of the long term problems suffered by many houses, and a problem that can cause and contribute to many different defects. The first potential defect which can arise from this problem is penetrating dampness, and even if you have cavity walls it can still happen if the cavity is blocked or if the wall-ties are encased with mortar (very common in reality).

Another problem arising from this is that unduly porous brick will eventually “spall” (the face blows off) and pointing can degrade more quickly due to the increased expansion that porous masonry exerts. Rendered and pebbledashed walls are particularly prone to degradation due to the same “freeze/thaw” action, causing cracks and splits that rainwater can get behind.

Metal wall ties are also at risk to corrosion if they are located in damp walls, and this can cause structural problems as metal can expand up to many times it’s original size when rusted. This can cause cracking, both on the outside of the wall and in the plaster on the inside and can physically push out the masonry.

Aquaseal can effectively solve this problem by means of treating your outside walls with a professional water-repellent coating. This clear coating uses the latest in chemical technology to line all the pores in the wall, this preventing the ingress of any water but still allowing moisture vapour to escape from the inside and so not creating any condensation problems. This product has already proved effective in protecting bricks, pointing, render and wall-ties from expensive degradation, and has already received approval from the BBA (British board of agreement). Aquaseal install this coating professionally by using a low pressure lance to spray a double coat of the product onto the outside walls, taking care to mask windows prior to installation. The treatment carries a comprehensive long term guarantee so please do not confuse it with some cheap DIY products which only put a temporary film on the wall.

Heat loss issues

It is now known that up to 35% of heat from your home disappears through the walls, so because wet walls will naturally conduct heat out of your home faster than dry walls, keeping your walls dry will help to improve the thermo-efficiency of your home. Also, if you have certain types of cavity wall insulation, such as mineral fibre, keeping this material dry will improve it’s efficiency.