Oliver Mallia, St Paul's Bay
Water-based problems
A number of apartments situated below penthouse terraces are having stained ceiling problems. I was told that the main problem in such cases is rainwater seeping in between tiles or apertures, leaving the screed in between wet or moist. Also, this kind of problem can be caused when new tiles are glued onto old ones, blocking the water drains of apertures. I know of at least one case where a membrane was applied before tile-laying and yet the problem occurred. Can an architect or an experienced tradesman explain how the job should be done properly and what to do before laying tiles?
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Pule' Carmel
Aug 29th 2009, 19:25
(contd) OVER THE CONCRETE (stops water Going down) under the opra morta area, and EXTEND DAMP COURSE OUTWARD TO OVERLAP THE CONCRETE VERTICAL outside FACE THICKNESS, down to the l- LEWWEL FILATA of the ceiling underwall. This procedure will completely seal the concrete ceiling from a SOAKED OPRAMORTA or A SOAKED UNDERWALL, or the face/EDGE of the concrete.
In England they also put DAMP COURSES under the top bricks of windowsills for the horizontal faces really get soaked in wet countries.
Every time I suggest this, people laugh at me, and everybody proceeds to seal the ceiling wrapping membranes up the INSIDE WALLS of an opra morta forgetting that a SOAKED opra morta and a soaked under wall will feed the concrete ceiling as a plant or a tree do all the time!!
Pule' Carmel
Aug 29th 2009, 19:23
In Malta we do not use DAMP COURSES where they should belong. We build the upright vertical walls, then the concrete ceiling over the under wall, then a little mortar, and over that the OPRA MORTA, then after maybe a membrane or tar on the ceiling, wrapped up the INSIDE face of the OPRA MORTA, then put screed and finish it up with concrete or tiles. Now note that if the outside and inside face of the OPRA MORTA gets SOAKING wet in winter, the dampness will travel down the opra morta, through the mortar and spread to the concrete ceiling as water travels in a tree or plant. Also if the under wall outside face, gets soaked, the water will travel up to the concrete ceiling(as in a plant/tree) and makes its way to the steel and make water patches on the upper corners of the rooms.
When one builds any storey, one should first build the upright walls, then PUT A DAMP COURSE OVER THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF THIS WALL, (stops water rising) they lay the concrete ceiling over the damp course, THEN PUT ANOTHER DAMP COURSE