www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi. I now have to make a fairly major decision regarding re-plastering my old (slightly damp in places walls).

I have been advised to use a 5:1 sand/cement mix with a water inhibiter, then scratch coat.

I did wonder whether I could line the walls with dpm, fit 1" battens to it then drywall.

Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi Edz,

It is better if you can cure the damp problem. Do you know why the walls are damp in places?

I have used a 5/1 mix with integral waterproofer in the past when I have had an electro osmisis DPC fitted.

How bad is the damp?

They are damp due to the fact that they are 9" solid walls with no dpc. The damp shows on the walls so I guess that's bad enough.

Is electro osmosis expensive to install?

It depends on the area to be covered.

I had a 4 bedroom semi in southport done for about £450 but I did all the making good afterwards.

Not sure where you live, but if you are near lancs I have a frined that does it much cheaper than other firms.

It does not look that hard to fit to be honest, you can probably get kits and do it yourself.

http://www.lectros.com/htm/09_electro.htm

I've only got 4 walls to do as I knocked the rest of the house down.

Does it work? Have you noticed a marked improvement?

I have had it installed in two properties now and for me it is the dpc of choice as it is clean and does not use chemicals. It also works on thick solid walls.

It has always worked very well, I sold the house in Southport last year and there was no damp or anything picked up on the survey.

My brother in law had an onld cottage and he had it installed and it worked on the walls, which were about 3 feet thick.

When I get my next house I will definately use electro osmosis again (if needed)

Another advantage is that if the plaster has not blown then you can leave it intact and simply remove the skirting boards and hide the wire behind that, so there is no need to remove the plaster in many cases

I have the Lectros rep contacting me. If I went with the electro osmosis then what finish would you reckon?

Dot n dab? Or browning? Or would I still be best going for the 5:1 sand/cement with a water inhibitor?

To be honest dot and dab is much easier for me and so probably will be for you also. If you go down the plastering route then you will have to wait for it to dry out.

You said that the wall was solid and so if I was you I would dot and dab some polysterene/foam backed sheets to the wall, this will insulate it somewhat