Dampness in North Cyprus

GBJohn


Joined: 11/04/2009
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
21/03/2011 19:33

If you like many people are seeing Dampness in your house I think I have found away to combat it, my house was done Oct Nov last year and still havent had any signs of it yet,paint flake or marks on the wall if you would like find out more email helenjohn1@live.co.uk or fone 0533 886 5412

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
21/03/2011 21:23

Why don't you just tell us????

GBJohn


Joined: 11/04/2009
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
22/03/2011 14:22

No MartinD41 have been told how to sell if you need it done then get in touch sure a good price could be given

John

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
22/03/2011 14:37

GB John- this isn't a simple fix...



the problem is shoddy construction / poor ventilation, plus torrential rain fall for days on end, plus months of very cold over night temperatures.....



if you can cure the above in a tin, you deserve a medal...............

Marvo


Joined: 30/04/2007
Posts: 194

Message Posted:
22/03/2011 14:44

We had Dampness in every room last year, down the walls, on the furniture, in the cupboards, clothes, every where (and we live here). Every item of clothing had to be washed. All the mould had to be rubbed down, cleaned and repainted.



This year we had nothing, not one bit of dampness anywhere. The answer, ventilation, and plenty of it, so save your money buying this and that solution. During the winter, on the dry sunny days, open all the windows and let the rooms breath.



Bob

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
22/03/2011 14:54

msg 5,



We have identified the lack of ventilation, particularly in unoccupied properties, to be a significant cause of black mold. We have carried out some improvements to several properties with good results.

Of course, poor construction methods here are the major contributor, but there is not much we can do about that, once the property is built.

BillyB


Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
22/03/2011 22:27

When you compare the small amount of rain we've had this year to what we had last year its no wonder all these wonder cures are working ;-)

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 01:06

A damp proof course will solve the problem in most cases, if not ventilation is the only option to prevent the damp. Good old fresh air

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 08:06

The air is often 80% humidity - laden with more damp. Warmth is the only answer then.

How can an effective damp proof course be retro-fitted to reinforced concrete?

Even if your home has one fitted all too often it's been rendered over providing a bridge for moisture to move upwards and onwards.

More to the point why don't they use PVA mixed into the concrete for the bottom floor and foundations to make the concrete waterproof?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 09:43

We can't turn the clock back and fit a DPC or mix PVA into the concrete.

What we are doing is trying to make the best of a bad job at a reasonable cost, particularly for absentee owners who leave their property buttoned-up over the winter.

If anyone is looking for a free, no obligation quote for this work please contact us at



vaughan@sunnycyprus.net

or

kevin@donegal-developments.com

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 10:29

Hi Groucho, In damp proofing an existing building you basically have 3 options,and they are dependant on the type of construction...If the panels between the columns are "terracotta briquettes"then it is more a case of "Damp Containment"..If the panels are 240mm "Thermalite Blocks" you have more options...



Damp Containment, involves removing the flooring and stripping the plaster to a height of 1mtr,Then coating the floor and walls with a waterproofing flexible cementatious compound such as "Vandex"...this in effect, "locks" the damp inside the walls and is commonly known as "Tanking"...(but obviously disruptive)

Thermalite walls can be either treated by CPI or preferably installing "Electro Osmotic"damp course.E.O. is highly efficient but does require constant power supply.. It fits behind the skirting boards,or can be over plastered...and typically uses 1to 3 volts.............and the running cost is negligible...

hds.trnc


Joined: 26/05/2009
Posts: 175

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 12:07

who installs osmotic solutions in trnc?

GBJohn


Joined: 11/04/2009
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 12:26

Hi no I cant stop the dampness but can make a bad room look good for a bit longer until the owner puts out the money to get the house vented so am sorry to have misled anybody, yes these houses are shoddy work

but we have to work with what we have thanks for the people who replied again sorry if I misled you

John

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 12:49

Msg.12 Electro Osmotic systems are available at "Damp Tech Cyprus" which is in Paphos....And provided you are D.I.Y. proficient are easily fitted............In the UK a typical 25 meter Kit is around £300.........

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 13:05

Why £300?,... because the "Anodes" which are the wire loops inserted into the walls are "Platinum coated Titanium"..It is expensive but far cheaper than Demolition and Re Build ...

swyflot


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 916

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 16:31

Buy an Aussie bungalw (built on stilts) no damp problems whatsoever in the five years we have lived in it

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 17:47

Can this be the answer to any damp problem?

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
23/03/2011 18:54

Swyflot. The Aussie type bungalow on stilts may contain damp problems but as the floors are open to the elements how do you maintain heat ? I would rather do Winter Warfare training in Norway without a high tog sleeping bag than again spend part of a winter in one of those deep freezers ! (

swyflot


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 916

Message Posted:
24/03/2011 09:52

Fitted gas fire in living room boosted when necessary with portable gas heater, warm as toast

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
24/03/2011 09:54

Burn a kilo of bottled gas and you will produce a kilo of water vapour, i.e. condensation.

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
24/03/2011 16:37

TRNCVaughan. Agree entirely with that observation. Amongst our circle of friends who have lived here in excess of 5 years every one has eventually gone for a dry form of heat such as central heating and/or enclosed log burner having suffered damp and mould from gas burners and indeed ill health. Not sure if it is so scientifically but apart from the damp put into the atmosphere these friends complained of oxygen depletion and breathing difficulties. At the end of the day it seems to me that the only true answer is to have a build on a proper damp course and cavity filling between double brick

combined with radiator central heating and sensible habits with regard to fresh air flow. Obviously there are problems if the initial build lacks this and there are remedies to much of the problem but it can be like painting the Forth Bridge.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
24/03/2011 17:18

msg21..I agree with you above post,but to get Builders to adhere to any form of building standards here is Hopeless..Damp courses are rarely used, and most of the time are laid flat across the full width of the wall,so becoming utterly useless...Cavity walls here are built and stuffed with Rock-wool or the like..( I have never seen a stainless steel Wall Tie here )Filling cavity walls was outlawed on new builds in the UK in the 80's.because the insulation was in contact with the outside "Skin"it acted as a "Wick"..Modern cavity work calls for the cavity to be 75mm not 50mm..rigid insulation such as Celotex 25mm is attached to the inside skin of the cavity, thus leaving a 50mm free cavity ,which is ventilated..Try to tell all that to a local Builder.........Daaah!

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
24/03/2011 17:42

martinD41. I am sure you are right but I hope I got something better than no effort whatsoever. I was aware of the problem in the med from the 1960s when soldiers in Gibraltar in unheated barracks were illegally running an electric cable into their lockers to fuel a 100 watt lightbulb in an effort to have dry uniforms to wear ! My builder here is a civil engineer and I contracted for a damp course and the double brick cavity houses polystyrene. Throughout the build I had architect stage inspections and a neighbour visit each day punctuated by regular visits myself from UK. Expensive but I feel worth it as combined with radiator central heating and log burner we have at least stayed free of damp and mould and well warm eneogh to keep free of health problems for 7 years. Fingers crossed that this continues

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
24/03/2011 18:50

Fair play to you Sir

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 21:00

Having read all that - hope your sore throat is better Brian!

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 21:19

Passed onto me by the the Wildebeest (bless her not) on her return from UK !!! Better now but I have not told the Wildebeest as I love sucking Strepsils in the absence of her sympathy.