Breather membrane behind plater

[sharpspark]

In the damp cottage we are doing up, we have been recommended to put Isola Platon Plaster Base membrane on the walls and then plaster over it. This membrane has shaped indentations that allow the plaster to grip onto it. This is along with the new floor with dpc and the injected dpc that is being done. The advantages are that this Platon allows the walls to breath, allows the plaster layer to dry quickly and also gets round the problem of stripping the walls that have paint on the bricks. Does any one have experience of this product? We are particularly concerned whether there will be problems mounting things on the wall with it. Not from the problem of puncturing it but from the aspect of whether the plaster will crack if you drill it, cut out a new socket box, fix a cupboard etc. Any experience of it out there?

 

[masona]

Have read at this from previous post.

You really got to find out what causing the damp in the first place,the dpc injected will not work on damp wall.It a bit like painting on wet wood.

 

[sharpspark]

It's an 1860's cottage with highly variable bricks, no apparent dpc and tiles on earth floors (now removed). At least the walls have had some chance of drying with no floors or plaster for 6 weeks.

 

[evdama]

We're doing a similar property only stone built.
The few power points present have the galvanised back boxes corroded away with the dampness.
Several attempts have been made in the past,none have worked.
A similar device to the one you describe was found on the internal walls.Its a corrugated fibreboard coated in bitumen,nailed to the wall and plastered over.
It doesnt work.
It makes the walls sound hollow,leading the surveyor to claim the plaster had blown.

There are also "pots"-clay tubes intended to catch moisture by capilliary action and channel it out of the wall.
They dont work either.

Several runs of 10mm holes are also present either done by giant masonary worms or a failed silicon dpc atttempt. Phone a friend?.....

If you must have this device fitted then youd be advised to get advice from the installer about having diy work done at a later date as its the perfect excuse for him to worm out of a warranty claim.Check the small print.
IHMO the whole issue of DPC certificates is an unholy alliance between solicitors ,surveyors,estate agents,remedial-service companies and mortgage lenders.All sealed with a funny handshake.
You're not supposed to stay in one house long enough to witness any failure of the treatment are you now????

In any case its better to get your new power points ,phone and tv wiring done first along with any room vents as it would minimise replastering later.

The paint can be easily removed from the bricks with an abrasive disc on a 4" grinder enough to get the plaster to stick.You can get these from Scr*****.
Anyway, a good plasterer can get plaster to stick to anything.
Whereas I can get plaster to stick to everything.
Except the wall.

The drier the wall becomes the more moisture it will draw from the ground- like the wick of an oil lamp.If the dampness is found above 1m high then suspect rainwater penetration from things like failed rendering leaking flashing faulty drain /rainwater pipes etc.

Many "damp" problems are often just the salt in the plaster attracting moisture from the air (does your salt-cellar clog up?!)
( put some rice in it then)
Ventilation and the use of "limelite" plaster will often eradicate the problem alone.

 

[sharpspark]

Thanks for all of this.