Prevent Penetrating Damp with Masonry Protection Cream

Wind driven rain and porous masonry can cause serious problems to properties across the UK, causing damp patches and cold walls. When walls become wet their thermal resistance lowers, meaning heat can escape. This creates a cold environment and increased heating bills.

Brickwork, masonry and mortar can become damaged and over time penetrating damp can lead to other issues such as wet rot and dry rot. In order to understand if masonry protection cream is the right treatment required, our qualified surveyors will first carry out a damp survey, investigating the exterior of your property to understand the root cause of the problem.

We will then provide you with specialist advice and solutions for penetrating damp and wind driven rain detailed in a survey report, along with recommendations including the application of masonry protection cream, if required.

Masonry protection creams create a waterproof barrier on porous building materials such as brickwork, stone and concrete and can prevent penetrating damp caused by wind driven rain. They line the pours in masonry, without blocking them, preventing water absorption but allowing for trapped water vapour to evaporate out. This helps protect masonry walls from further damage from spalling, efflorescence and can prevent moss and algae from forming. Because walls are no longer wet they help improve the thermal efficiency of the structure, meaning less heat is required to warm inside.

They can be used as part of wider damp proofing solution and can even be used as part of flood resilience or flood protection systems.  Other products are available but often have less active ingredients or seal the surface of the masonry, trapping water vapour and leaving a visible sheen on the surface.

Stormdry is a masonry protection cream that is BBA certified for a 25 year life, developed by Safeguard. Peter Cox are installers of Stormdry masonry protection cream, providing a thorough solution for penetrating damp.

• Prevents moisture absorption: Stormdry provides long lasting protection against moisture penetration. Where mortar is deteriorated, repointing will be required to get the full benefit of the cream.
• Increased thermal performance and energy savings: Because dry walls have increased thermal resistance, this means that an application of Stormdry can help provide energy bill savings of up to 27% from one single application.

This means that energy efficiencies may prove useful for properties where other insulation options are not practical. For properties with cavity wall insulation, Stormdry can help protect against moisture penetration which can cause insulation to become wet and lose thermal efficiency.

External issues can cause damp patches inside properties, and can be caused in numerous ways. Porous brickwork can often lead to damp issues internally, but these are often exacerbated by damaged mortar, missing bricks, poor drainage or by damaged gutters.

Penetrating damp can be caused by all manner of building defects, so an application of masonry protection cream may not solve the problem long term. You will need to investigate other entry points, which will include damaged rainwater goods and blocked drains. If you are still unsure, you can arrange a damp survey to fully investigate the problem and extent of damage, with all findings outlined in a survey report, with recommendations.

One application of masonry protection cream will penetrate deep into the masonry before curing and forming a colourless, water repellant barrier. This means it will not alter the appearance of the stone, brickwork or concrete while preventing your walls from becoming saturated by rain.

Due to its unique formulation and deep penetration, it is resistant to UV light and other
forms of degradation, resulting in a long life expectancy. Stormdry was granted BBA Certification in March 2015 with a stated durability of 25 years.

Peter Cox can provide cost effective and detailed repair recommendations for penetrating damp.

• Expert damp and timber surveys to fully understand the extent of any damp problem
• Decades of experience carrying out damp proofing treatments
• We have a number of CSRT/CSTDB qualified surveyors across the country operating from our network of local branches
• We are a Which? Trusted Trader - meaning our customer service and workmanship has passed the rigorous trading standards required.
• We are rated ‘Excellent’ with over 2,500 independent reviews on Trustpilot.

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  What is the difference between masonry cream and sealer?

  A masonry protection cream creates a waterproof barrier by lining the pores, rather than blocking them like a sealer does. This allows moisture to escape, whereas with a sealer moisture will be trapped inside. This can lead to issues such as further penetrating damp, damaged plasterwork and even fungal decay. Sealer can often change the appearance of masonry, leaving a sheen, while masonry protection creams such as Stormdry, dry clear.

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  How do you apply Stormdry masonry protection cream?

  Stormdry masonry protection cream can be applied by roller or brush, depending on the size and extent of the area needing protection.