How to treat rising vapor?

How to treat rising vapor?

Rising moisture can have a very negative effect on buildings if not resolved in time. In this article, discover everything about the causes and effects, how to treat rising humidity and the products that Reynchemie offers to re-waterproof your walls.

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What is rising moisture?

Rising moisture or rising damp is unfortunately more common than people think. Many homes suffer from rising moisture, sometimes even without seeing it with the naked eye. Actually, it is nothing but moisture that finds its way up through materials such as stone or concrete, to higher floors of a home or business premises.

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Causes of rising humidity

There are 3 most common causes of rising moisture: 1) the absence of a cavity in a wall, 2) the presence of salts in the wall and 3) moisture rising from the basement.

1. The absence of a cavity in the wall ensures that moisture can penetrate from outside to inside and also reduces insulation value. This often occurs in the somewhat older houses, which often consist of solid walls without the presence of a cavity.

2. The presence of hygroscopic salts in the wall means that the wall continues to attract moisture. These salts come from the soil, fertilizers, road salt and attract moisture. This can be ground moisture, rain and seepage water, but also condensation from within.

3. Due to its natural location, a basement or other underground space is sensitive to moisture problems. The moisture can enter you as a result and in various ways: as seeping in groundwater, seepage after heavy rainfall, or via condensation.

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Consequences of rising humidity

Rising moisture leads to various problems. This first comes to mind (at first glance) innocent things such as a musty smell and moisture spots on walls and ceilings. This can ultimately lead to more adverse consequences such as peeling wallpaper, peeling paint and plaster layers, peeling skirting boards, wood rot and even mold. Added to this is the harmful effect on the health of the residents of the building.

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Treat rising moisture

There are 4 ways to treat rising damp: 1) waterproofing the basement via basement waterproofing, 2) installing a flood barrier or drainage system, 3) installing a ventilation system or 4) injecting the walls with a hydrofuge.

1. Basement sealing

Reynchemie has decades of experience with basement sealing with expertise in the field and an extensive product range. Be sure to read our article "The importance of a watertight basement" to learn everything about this method of moisture control!

2. Installing a drainage system

In a drainage system, the moisture from the walls and/or floor ends up in a specially placed bubble wrap, after which it is drained via a drainage edge that collects the moisture and removes it to a collection pit, connected to an exhaust channel.

3. Installing a ventilation system

Condensation causes many moisture problems, not only in the basement, but also in higher levels. Due to insufficient ventilation, moisture cannot find a way out and therefore adheres to the surfaces that are available. By ventilating the room properly, fresh air is continuously supplied and humid air is removed and thus prevents condensation.

4. Wall injection

Injecting the walls with a water repellent offers a permanent solution to many moisture problems. Almost all surfaces can be injected using this method. Wall injection is the ideal solution for local moisture spots and sporadically excessive moisture, as well as for unadvanced rising moisture.

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Performing wall injection

Wall injection can be carried out with both solvent-based and water-based systems. Water-based injection products are available in liquid or gel form. The effectiveness of the products depends on the type of active ingredient and their formulation (water-based, solvent-based, cream or gel).

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Reynchemie has 2 injection products against rising moisture: RC Drygel 80 and RC 310 ECO:

‍RC Drygel 80 is an environmentally friendly injection cream consisting of 80% active ingredient. Due to the transition phase from gel to a vapor phase, it spreads optimally in the injected wall so that a waterproof barrier is obtained in walls with voids, cracks and cracks, but also in hollow concrete blocks and materials such as quick-building bricks and cellular concrete. Our injection cream is solvent-free and poses no risk - even odour nuisance - to the user or occupant. RC Drygel 80 gets a "highly efficient "product" score at the WTCB.

After removing the skirting boards, paneling and affected plasters on the wall, you can proceed with the injection. To do this, drill horizontal holes with a diameter of 12 or 14 mm and a distance of 10 to 12 cm at an angle of 10° to 15°. Insert the syringe completely to the end of the borehole and retreat a few cm. Squeeze the gun handle gently and, as you gradually pull the gun back, completely fill the borehole with the RC Drygel 80 to 1 cm from the wall surface. The boreholes should be closed afterwards with DEC 2021.

After the injection with RC Drygel 80, it is recommended to brush off the salt efflorescences after dehydration and to treat them with salt blockers RC Nitrablock whether RC Sulfastop. To ensure an extremely efficient result, the salt buffering and slightly water-repellent plaster is RC Sanisel applied to the wall. Finishing can be done with finishing plaster RC Calcoliss 300.

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RC 310 ECO is a solvent-based injection fluid whose lifespan of the treatment is unlimited in practice and provides a definitive and effective result. RC 310 ECO is suitable for both thin and thick walls and achieves score A+ (highly efficient) according to the WTCB.

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Reynchemie's range and expertise

Combating moisture is not an easy job. There are many things to take into account: choosing the right products and materials, respecting the correct drying time, applying the correct techniques... Also, keep in mind that every situation is different and requires a specific approach. Carrying out moisture control yourself is therefore not recommended.

Are you sure of a correct diagnosis and approach? Be sure to contact one of our technical advisors via Contact. Our technical advisors can certainly also recommend a certified company to seal your basement.

Be sure to check out our full range of rising moisture and consult our technical brochure about rising humidity.