Proposed end use.

The barn was being converted to a domestic dwelling.

The Problem
The rear wall of the barn was partially below ground and a small stream ran adjacent to the rear of the building. 

Internal stonework was contaminated with nitrate chloride and sulphate salts partly due to the previous use of the building.

Zurich Insurance, who were providing 10-year insurance cover for the whole project, required a solution to the damp and contamination problems that would carry a GPI insurance-backed. It was stipulated that the chosen system should not permanently deface the stonework.

The Solution
A cementitious system was considered unsuitable because of the requirement that the stonework should not be permanently defaced.

A cavity drain plastic membrane system was therefore determined to be the most suitable system.

Design Featrues

As the front of the building was not below ground, it was possible to drain the membrane system to the front wall via a series of ‘weep holes’.  The floor slab was sloped towards the front of the building to eliminate the need for any drains.

The plaster membrane system was installed on all walls of the barn. The membrane system chosen accepted a dot & dab’ thermal board dry lining system to meet the insulation requirements of Building Control.