News / Damp proof course

• Jul 02, 2015

  Elastomeric paints are a wise choice for efflorescence prevention

  Without damp or water penetration, efflorescence cannot occur. Efflorescence is caused by a concentration of salts that have been dissolved by moisture and transported by capillary action to a point of discharge where the moisture evaporates, and leaves the salts behind.  Water is the most destructive compound that works against the health and longevity of any building, in so many different ways other than just efflorescence. Therefore, a quality building specification must always pay careful attention to preventing the ingress of water and damp in every situation.  For over a decade, a cement rendered and painted finish has been very popular in Australia. Render has often been applied...

  Read more →
  • concrete, damp proof course, dpc, efflorescence in render, Elastomeric paints, exposure grade bricks, high build paints, how soon can you paint render, membrane, mortar, mortar additive, paint systems for masonry, painting over render, render, rendered walls, saline soils, salinity, salt attack, salt damp, salt resistant bricks, shrinkage cracks
  • Share

• Mar 05, 2014

  Salinity in Australia - a big problem that builders need to consider.

  The Master Builders Association meeting held in Maitland last week had a very entertaining and informative guest speaker from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The topic was urban salinity. Salt from the soil can have a very destructive and catastrophic effect on masonry in buildings. Salt is drawn up into masonry with rising damp, and over many years with wet and dry cycles, more and more salt is deposited into the point of evaporation, typically in brickwork or stonework below damp proof course [DPC] level. The pressure exerted by crystallising salt can exceed 200MPa, whilst the tensile resistant strength...

  Read more →
  • Ben from Efflock, Brick Mart, brick mortar, brickwork, Brookvale, building advice, building in saline areas, building materials, building problems, building technology, camden council, chlorides, construction in saline soils, construction problems, damp proof course, efflock for saline areas, exposure grade bricks, ground salt, masonry, prevent salt attack, prevention of salt attack, rising damp, saline soils, salt attack, salt in sand, salts, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, spalling, stop salt attack, urban salinity
  • Share

• Jan 20, 2014

  Rising Damp and Salt Attack - free PDF

  We have recommended this publication on our blog previously: Salt Attack and Rising Damp - A Guide to Salt Damp in Historic and Older Buildings. Salt attack is as destructive to masonry as termites are to timber, and is prone to occur on any building site in Australia due to our soils and extreme weather patterns. As salt is dissolved by water and absorbed by masonry, the water evaporates, leaving behind more and more salt with each wet cycle. Salt crystallises to expand at extraordinary pressure   (> 200MPa) to easily turn stone, bricks and mortar to dust. As outlined...

  Read more →
  • Brick Mart, brick mortar, brickwork, building in saline areas, building problems, Camden Council, cement additive, control transport of damp through masonry, CPD points for builders, Damp proof course, DPC, Dubbo council, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflock to prevent rising damp in render, efflock to prevent salt damp, efflock to prevent water absorption, get efflock, getefflock, Green Star, green star approved, Green Star rating, recommended additive for saline areas, saline areas, salinity, salt attack, Salt Attack and Rising Damp, Salt Attack and Rising Damp - A Guide to Salt Damp in Historic Buildings, salt attack in brickwork, salt in soil, salts rising, sustainable architecture, why you should get efflock
  • Share

• Dec 12, 2013

  Ten reasons to get Efflock

  Why should you get Efflock for your building project?   10 key benefits: A water-based green building product (in high liquid concentrate form to minimise packaging), free of VOCs, to prolong the durability and service life of all concrete materials. Prevents efflorescence discharging when mixed with any type of concrete. Makes concrete hydrophobic to repel damp. Enhances and retains colour in coloured concrete. Prevents salt attack. Prevents frost attack. Provides a primary water repellant barrier in wet areas. Improves curing of concrete (slows moisture release, prolonging the hydration of cement). Ideal for off-form concrete in architectural applications. (Will not change...

  Read more →
  • 10 reasons why you should get efflock, admixture, architectural concrete, australiasia, curing, Damp proof course, EffLock, Efflock green star compliant, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent water absorption, efflock.com, efflorescence, Efflorescence protection, Effstop, Effstop Plus, Get Efflock, getefflock, look, new, New technology, original efflorescence prevention, patented, patented technology, stop efflorescence, USA, why you should get efflock
  • Share

• Apr 25, 2013

  Recommended Reading: Salt Attack & Rising Damp in Buildings

  This publication is a great reference for builders and for anyone considering building or renovating - particularly for understanding rising damp in older houses. Salt can be an incredibly destructive compound, and understanding how salt damp behaves is the first step in designing a solution to control and prevent salt attack. Efflock is an ideal product to prevent the transport of salt throughout masonry. Efflock is excellent for use in new construction to prevent efflorescence and damp problems in tiled patios and wet areas, but can be used in many different applications such as render and brick mortar. It can sometimes however,...

  Read more →
  • architects, blistering paint, brick mortar, building defects, building materials, building problems, control transport of damp through masonry, crumbling brickwork, crumbling render, Damp proof course, efflock, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, Home renovations, hydrophobic, hygroscopic salts, phosphate in soil, prevent capillary action, prevent rising damp, prevent wicking, Recommended reading, Salt Attack and Rising Damp, Salt Attack and Rising Damp - A Guide to Salt Damp in Historic Buildings, subfloor walls
  • Share

• Mar 01, 2013

  Efflock to prevent rising damp and salt attack in buildings

  Photograph showing rising damp and subsequent salt attack below DPC level. Rising damp is destructive for buildings. It is well understood that damp very quickly will create rot in structural timbers such as bearers and joists, and therefore a DPC (damp proof course) is provided to prevent rising damp. A modern DPC is typically a black embossed polythene roll that is laid out directly beneath ant-capping, or just below finished ground floor level. Polyethelene underlay (black or orange plastic) serves the same purpose for slab on ground construction. What is not usually considered, is that rising damp can also have destructive consequences...

  Read more →
  • blistering paint, brick mortar, building advice, building defects, building materials, building problems, building technology, cement, cement additive, cement grout additive, control transport of damp through masonry, crumbling brickwork, crumbling render, Damp proof course, DPC, Efflock, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflorescence, efflorescence control, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, hygroscopic salts, mortar additive, patented technology, phosphate in soil, prevent capillary action, prevent rising damp, render, render additive, rising damp, rising damp in render, salt attack, subfloor walls, sustainable building, Sustainable building products
  • Share