Horizontal barrier against rising damp
As soon as you notice a musty smell, damp walls or even mold in the cellar or living area, you should act immediately.
Many homeowners believe they can solve the problem by sealing the walls from the inside. Unfortunately, however, this does not eliminate the cause and results in immense additional costs.
The solution to capillary rising damp in the foundation walls is a horizontal barrier/stainless steel barrier to be installed subsequently.
Why do damp walls occur?
There can be various causes for a damp wall. In addition to existing leaking waterproofing systems, the most common cause of damp in masonry is the lack of a horizontal barrier against rising ground moisture in the foundation walls.
The moisture penetrates from the soil into the foundation masonry and is transported further upwards by the capillary effect. The salts dissolved in the soil moisture (carbonates, nitrates, sulphates and chlorides) lead to the formation of crystals on the wall surfaces as they evaporate, causing mortar and wall paint to flake off. This results in stains on the walls, crumbling plaster and a musty indoor climate, which greatly reduces the quality of living.
If these signs of moisture are already apparent, action must be taken immediately.A subsequent horizontal barrier is a necessary, long-term and sustainable measure.
Our patented HW stainless steel barrier is driven in and sealed in a single work step. Our process also protects the walls from strong vibrations and prevents damage to the masonry.
Difference between horizontal and vertical lock
The major difference between a horizontal and vertical barrier is that the horizontal sealing of the walls prevents the vertical capillary rise of soil moisture in the walls, whereas the vertical barrier prevents the penetration of moisture into the area of the side walls in contact with the soil.
How is our HW stainless steel barrier installed?
While many new buildings usually have a horizontal barrier, this is not the case for a large number of old or existing buildings. These either have no horizontal barrier or one that is already inadequate. Our patented, mechanically installed horizontal barrier is the ideal choice against moisture and mold when retrofitting waterproofing.
The product and the special method of driving it into the masonry are unique in their entirety. Using our pneumatic HW impact devices, which drive the HW stainless steel plates into the wall, we carry out the subsequent drying of the wall in just a single work step!
The ideal solution against damp walls
At HW Mauertrockenlegung, we achieve complete moisture insulation of the masonry in just a single work step (separating & sealing) by inserting a metallic horizontal barrier. This consists of HW insulating plates (rust and acid-resistant stainless steel alloys), which are driven into the wall using pneumatically operated equipment.
Other mechanical processes in this sector require several work steps, whereby the possibility of wall settlement cannot be ruled out.
Our mutually overlapping stainless steel panels, which we developed at HW Mauertrockenlegung, form a permanently tight, horizontal barrier against capillary rising damp. The arrowhead-like design of the front edge of the insulating panels reduces impact resistance and greatly reduces surface friction. Less impact energy is required, which reduces shocks and vibrations.
This technology also allows the plates to be driven into masonry up to 1 m thick! The maintenance-free horizontal barrier using the patented HW stainless steel plate with tip is used exclusively by our HW partners.
Your benefits with our horizontal barrier
We have been developing stainless steel plates as horizontal barriers for over 45 years, which are installed by selected partners using special HW equipment. Thanks to our expertise, your walls (and your cellar if the vertical waterproofing is intact) are optimally protected against damage caused by capillary rising damp and therefore also against mold growth. Get in touch with us, we will be happy to advise you on the quality options with our own patented system.
Our work speaks for itself and our customers are happy to recommend us to others. See for yourself by gaining an insight and overview of our services and projects.