S T M Damp

Seaterra Marina

Water ingress to ground floor apartments

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Block F

Note the floor height (ground floor) above the surrounding ground levels

Section through block (NTS)

(Presumed) damp membrane belowground floor indicated by dottedline.

Typical floor build up (assumed for ST Marina)

1. Floor tile2. Floor screed3. Concrete floor4. Damp proof membrane5. Free draining granular fill

Winter rain in Cyprus

Rainwater laying on balcony

Winter rainfall

• Winter 2007/8 – dry winter causing drought conditions • Spring 2008 – few damp problems reported in apartments• Winter 2008/9 – very wet winter• Spring 2009 – damp problems apparent in ground floor apartments• Winter 2009/10 – wet winter• Spring 2010 – damp problems persist

A clear connection between high rainfall and water ingress to ground floor apartments

Water penetration

Water puddles on the first floor balcony, penetrates & finds a route down the hollow clay wall blocks and chases for services.

Problems ahead!

Water begins to accumulate beneath the floor being trapped by the damp barriers installed during construction.

“Rising damp”

The water having nowhere to escape travels back up the wall appearing as “rising damp”

Damp at glazed elevation

Worst levels of damp appear in the area directly below the balcony above. Note the column on the right is the line of the 1st floor apartment external wall.

Damp floors

Damp walls

Damp ceilings