Rising damp

Spanish houses

Are the walls in your house in Spain suffering from the effects of damp? Have you bought an older property in Spain with plaster coming off the walls and the paint peeling? Is your house cold? Are you beginning to notice damp in your new house after only three or four years? Do you need help in resolving the issue of rising damp in Spain?

Spanish building methods

Looking at Spanish houses both old and new it is apparent that the building materials vary greatly, from piedra y barro (stones and mud), to modern ladrillo (biscuit fired ceramic bricks). In some older homes there may be a mixture of all of these materials and more, as some of the older houses were not so much built as “grew over a period of many years”. This makes the problem worse and treatment of rising damp more difficult as injection systems as efficient as they are back home, run into some problems here, due to the often lack of information about the structure and materials used during the "growth" of the house.

How do we fix the problem

Using the technology known as Electro-osmotic damp proofing a small voltage is applied between two electrodes. A series of platinum plated anodes are placed in the wall to be damp proofed. These are connected via a small power supply to an earthed conductor. The process forces the water in the walls to be drawn towards the cathode (the earthed conductor) and prevents more water from rising through the walls. Due to the ease of installation, the system can be installed from either side of the walls and normally requires two to three days to complete. Disruption is minimal.

What is Electro osmosis?

Electro-osmosis is a process that has a history of almost two hundred years. Discovered in the early18th century by a German scientist, it was discovered that water was moved from a positive anode to a negative cathode when a current was applied. The current, (for the boffins), used by our systems is approx 5-10volts and 20mA. Annual consumption is usually less than 1KWH costing less than 8 cents.

Electro-osmotic damp proofing systems do not effect pacemakers, mobile phones or any household electrical appliances. Being totally free of ALL chemicals, they are also ecologically friendly. The total lack of toxic, or in fact any chemicals, means that the possibility of an animal, pet or worse a child, suffering from chemical poisoning, can never exist.

   The end result of a treated house is a greener more comfortable home that requires far less maintainance, (one ton of carbon dioxide gas is released into the atmosphere for every ton of Portland cement manufactured) and less heating (Butane: 1 bottle produces approx 26kg CO2).
   The problem of black mold is also endemic in most properties that suffer damp problems. This can result in a serious health risk. This infamous mold is a contributing factor to illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. According to the CDC (Center of Disease Control), this mold is responsible for agrivating over "100 kinds of lung disorder."
   All electro-osmotic damp proofing systems supplied and installed by Electro-Os (Damp Proofing Spain) consists of industrial grade titanium wire with platinum plated anodes. These systems have been installed in over 90,000 properties world wide over the last 40 years and as the materials are virtually indestructible all installations carry a 30 year guarantee.

Electro-Os (Damp Proofing Spain), is situated in Castell de Ferro, in the province of Granada. It is a British company owned by people who have worked in Spain for eighteen years. Specializing in the treatment of damp so often found in Spanish homes, particularly older, village houses since 1995. Electro-Os (Damp Proofing Spain) can treat your home to maximum effect with minimal disruption. The system works on all types of properties, irrespective of age or structure type. It is immediately effective. It permanently guards against the dangers of rising damp, and is guaranteed for 30 years.

Our objectives are : -

• To provide products of the highest quality in conjunction with the required support system to assure success ...

• To strive for continued improvement and innovation...

• To maintain a strong commitment to the global ecosystem...

• To encourage creativity and individual improvement...

• To accept challenges and view them as opportunities...

Although based in Granada, Electro-Os (Damp Proofing Spain) will travel throughout the south of Spain. Our multi-lingual staff are always available to help and a written quotation can be provided.

Our telephone numbers are 958 656 650 and 619 666 363 English and Spanish spoken

Jeffrey Hadleigh-Lloyd