Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream
| Standards & Accreditations | |
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Certificate 15/5198 |
 Energy Saving Trust |
Stormdry is a colourless [1], breathable, water-repellent treatment for brick, concrete and stone [2] walls. It is supplied in the form of a deeply penetrating cream that is applied to the wall surface using a roller or brush. Once Stormdry has been applied to the wall surface in a single coat and will permeate deeply before curing to form a water-repellent barrier for a BBA approved 25 years. Typical applications for Stormdry include:
- Protecting against penetrating damp (rain penetration)
- Improving the thermal resistance of masonry by keeping it dry – verified by the Energy Saving Trust
- Improving the performance of cavity wall insulation by protecting it from moisture
- Improving flood resistance of masonry
Breathable and Long Lasting
Stormdry is based on carefully selected silanes and siloxanes which line the pores of the masonry to form a water-repellent silicone matrix. Because it works by lining the pores rather than blocking them the masonry is allowed to breathe and does not suffer from increased frost damage (spalling). Due to its novel formulation and deep penetration, Stormdry is resistant to UV light and other forms of degradation, resulting in a life expectancy of 20 – 30 years.
Deeply Penetrating
Stormdry is able to penetrate more deeply into masonry than traditional liquid-applied masonry water repellents. As well as increasing life expectancy this also improves Stormdry’s crack-bridging ability. As the diagram to the right shows, Stormdry is able to provide water-repellency beyond the depth of small cracks.
It should be noted that larger cracks will still need to be filled as part of the Stormdry treatment. Mortar lines may need to be repointed with a sand/cement or sand/lime mix incorporating Stormdry Repointing Additive.
Effective
Stormdry has been tested to BS EN ISO 15148:2002 (E), demonstrating its effectiveness on concrete, mortar, brick, and sandstone. The graph below shows that the water uptake for Stormdry treated samples was considerably lower than for untreated samples:
As Stormdry is formulated to penetrate deeply into masonry it can take up to two months after application for a noticeable “beading effect” to appear when rainfall strikes the wall. However, Stormdry is resistant to rain after just 12 hours.
Improving the Thermal Performance of Masonry
Improving the thermal resistance of walls through the use of conventional insulation is not always practical – particularly where older buildings are concerned. Many homes and commercial properties in the UK are built using single-skin walls, making them unsuitable for cavity wall insulation. The installation of internal insulation can be disruptive and takes up valuable living space whilst externally applied insulation is often unattractive.
Fortunately, Stormdry offers a solution. It is a well-known fact that porous masonry materials such as brick, stone, concrete, and mortar are worse insulators when they are wet. By preventing the absorption of water, Stormdry ensures that the insulation properties of the masonry are maximised throughout the year.
Tests carried out using Stormdry at the University of Portsmouth and subsequent SAP analysis showed reductions in solid wall thermal conductivity when Stormdry was applied. This has been verified in an independent report carried out by environmental consultants, Giraffe Innovation.
Stormdry has been verified by the Energy Saving Trust.
Improving the Flood Resistance of Masonry
Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream can be used in conjunction with Stormdry Repointing Additive No.2 and Stormdry FD-Coat Flood Defence Coating to increase the flood resistance of masonry as part of a flood resilience system.
Stormdry products are included in a number of flood resilience specifications that are detailed in the Safeguard Flood Resilience Guide. The guide gives an overview of the options available to property owners for repairing and protecting structures against flood damage. Click here to download it for free.
Stormdry Application
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Remove any loose mortar, dust etc… using a masonry brush. When biological growth such as moss, algae or lichen needs to be removed, apply SoluGuard Multi-Surface Biocide in accordance with instructions.
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Stormdry can be applied by brush around details such as windows. Care should be taken to ensure that Stormdry does not splash onto glass, paintwork, plants, etc. Any splashes should be cleaned away with warm soapy water.
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Larger areas can be covered more quickly using roller application. Stormdry can also be applied by electric roller or airless spray – contact our technical department for details.
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Check for any “missed” areas that have not been treated (e.g. voids in brickwork, deep mortar beds) and apply Stormdry to these areas using a brush.
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Stormdry appears white immediately after treatment – making it easy to tell which areas have been treated.
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15 – 20 minutes after application, Stormdry starts to penetrate into the masonry and the whiteness will fade.
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After 24 – 48 hours the wall will have returned to its original appearance.
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As Stormdry is formulated to penetrate deeply into masonry it can take up to two months after application for a noticeable “beading effect” to appear when rainfall strikes the wall. The masonry will be resistant to light rain after two to four hours.
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A Stormdry Gauge can be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatment. The test should be carried out at least 28 days after applying Stormdry which allows the water absorption of the wall before and after treatment to be compared.
Stormdry Website
Further information about Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream and related products can be found on the Stormdry website, www.stormdry.com. Alternatively click the links below to be taken to specific pages:
[1] Application of Stormdry Masonry protection Cream may cause some slight darkening to certain substrates. Although this will usually fade over time, a small, representative and inconspicuous test area should always be treated before full treatment begins.
[2] Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream is not suitable for use on pure limestone (e.g. Portland Stone). Please contact our technical department on 01403 210204 or submit an enquiry for information on water-repellent treatments for limestone.