Contaminated Walls?

Walls can be contaminated for a variety of reason. Newton membrane systems have been successfully used for many years to deal with problems such as:

Salt contamination

Walls can be contaminated by salts for a number of reasons. Because salt is hygroscopic (attracts moisture), salt contamination can often be the cause of dampness within buildings. Salts from the ground (nitrates or sulphates), or even salts from animal urine, can lead to a saturation of salts within the structure. In coastal areas, sea water can contribute to a high concentration of salts also.

Generally older buildings suffer from this problem as usually no physical type of damp proof course was ever installed. Barns have the additional problem where the years of storage of fertilizers and animals often results in very high concentration of salts to the structure.

Our membranes are unaffected by salts of any kind, and will provide a barrier separating the contaminated substrate from internal finishes. If the contaminated structure is earth retaining, the type of contamination needs to be understood as it may not be possible to remove contaminated water to the local drainage system, and often separators are required. In coastal areas, a salt water pumping system may need to be used.

Contaminants causing severe damage on the National Trust listed building. Newlath 2000 installed prior to rendered finish protecting property from salt contamination.

Oil contamination

If oil has contaminated the soil surrounding the structure, inevitably the fabric of the structure will become contaminated also. Whilst the leaking vessel can be repaired, and steps taken to remove the oil from the ground, once the walls are contaminated there is little that can be done to clean them. The smell of oil can make the property uninhabitable and is a major health and safety concern.

Newton membranes are unaffected by oil within the substrate, and when installed correctly can provide a new dry oil free inner surface to the property ready for new internal finishes. Being tested as 'gas tight', a sealed Newton system will prevent the smell of oil permeating the habitable space to provide the complete solution.

If the contaminated structure is below the ground, a Newton System 500 waterproofing system will provide both a barrier to the contaminated oil, as well as the waterproofing system. Water collected by the Newton system will be contaminated, and so oil separators will be required to be installed before the water can be pumped out of the property.

Solutions:

Above ground structures requiring a plastered, rendered or dabbed plasterboard finish should be treated with Newlath 2000, or Newton 503 Mesh, as these membranes have a mesh to the inner surface of the membrane that acts as a 'key' suitable for these finishes. If a dry-lining system is to be used, Newton 500 or Newton 503 can be used.

Below the ground, Newton System 500 with a full drainage system should always be used, and again the choice of either a meshed membrane, Newton 503 Mesh, or a plain membrane, Newton 500 is available for the walls.

Being an inert material, oils, salts and moisture cannot penetrate the membrane to damage the interior surface. Additionally the air filled cavity will add to the thermal properties of the new building.

If the substrate is uneven and you require a uniform surface, it may be prudent use an Independent Dry-lining system in front of one of our lain membranes (Newton 500 or Newton 503).  Although this may not follow the original contours of the wall it will give the client the opportunity to insulate the property and run electrical conduit and other services through the frame cavity.

NOTE: Meshed membranes (Newlath 2000, Newton 503 Mesh & Newton 508 Mesh) must be secured tight to the substrate to be able to accept a plaster or render finish. In addition, renders and plasters applied to meshed membranes must be allowed to dry between coats (refer to Newlath 2000 technical specifications). 

For further examples of Newton Systems solving contamination problems in buildings use the links below:

Sutherland Grove London SW18  listed building conversion school to luxury apartments.

Douai Abbey – Listed Abbey converted to apartments with Newlath 2000.