Repair Systems — Rising Damp
Chemical DPC injection — silane cream
Technical product reference for silane-based cream chemical damp proof course injection for rising damp treatment in Australian masonry walls — covering product type classification, brand comparisons, system selection and BS 6576 compliance.
What are silane cream chemical DPC injection systems?
Chemical damp proof course (DPC) injection using silane-based cream is the most widely used method for treating rising damp in existing masonry walls in Australia. The process involves drilling horizontal holes at regular spacing into the mortar bed joint at low level, injecting silane cream product, and allowing the silane to cure and create a hydrophobic barrier across the full wall cross-section that blocks further capillary rise.
Silane cream products use n-butyltriethoxysilane or similar silane chemistry that reacts with the alkalinity present in the masonry, bonding to pore walls and lining them with a water-repelling surface. The cream consistency is a key advantage over liquid siloxane products — cream stays within the drilled hole during the curing period, making it practical for walls where drill holes cannot be pressure-sealed and ensuring the product remains at the correct position within the wall cross-section.
Chemical DPC injection is only one part of the complete rising damp remediation sequence. After injection, the old salt-contaminated plaster must be stripped, the masonry allowed to begin drying, and the wall replastered with salt-resistant renovation plaster (WTA system). Application of non-breathable materials before the wall has dried will trap moisture and cause plaster failure.
Do not confuse with:
- Siloxane liquid DPC injection — lower viscosity liquid product — different application method — see the siloxane liquid page
- Crystalline waterproofing slurries (Xypex, Penetron, Vandex) — positive or negative side waterproofing against hydrostatic pressure — not a chemical DPC for rising damp
- Surface-applied water repellents (Stormdry, Siloxane facade cream) — surface treatment only — does not create a barrier within the wall cross-section
- Cavity wall or physical DPC systems — mechanical, not chemical
- Electro-osmotic or electronic damp proofing systems — fundamentally different operating principle — confirm evidence base before specifying
Product Reference
Individual products — one card each — scroll to view all
Safeguard Europe / Wykamol
Dryzone Damp-Proofing Cream
Silane/siloxane (silicone) cream DPC — porous masonry
Dryzone Damp-Proofing Cream (Safeguard Europe, AU distribution via Wykamol) is a water-based silicone cream containing over 60% active. It is injected into 12 mm holes drilled at 120 mm centres, ~90% through the wall, along the first continuous mortar course at least 150 mm above ground; the active reacts with masonry alkalinity to line the pores with a hydrophobic barrier. Cream consistency keeps it in the hole during cure — no pressure equipment. Injection is one step only: strip salt-contaminated plaster to ≥300 mm above the tide mark and replaster with salt-resistant renovation plaster.
Sika Australia
Sika SikaMur InjectoCream-100
1-component silane cream DPC injection
Sika SikaMur InjectoCream-100 is a one-component silane cream chemical DPC for rising damp in masonry. Supplied in a 300 ml cartridge for a standard sealant gun (no pressure equipment); the silane forms a hydrophobic barrier across the wall when injected into 12 mm holes spaced no more than 120 mm apart and drilled to within 40 mm of the far face. Sika's national AU technical support, accredited applicators and documentation suit larger strata remediation with warranty / compliance needs. As with all chemical DPC, injection is one part of the system — strip salt-contaminated plaster and replaster with salt-resistant renovation plaster.
Remmers Australia
Remmers Kiesol C
80% active silane cream DPC — WTA system; severely saturated / dense masonry
Remmers Kiesol C is an aqueous, solvent-free silane injection cream with 80% active content, in Remmers' WTA-referenced rising-damp system. It is introduced into 12 mm boreholes in the mortar joint ~150 mm above ground under gravity (no pressure) and forms a hydrophobic barrier across the wall. It is WTA-approved for walls with moisture saturation up to 95% — a key advantage for severely saturated and denser masonry. 5 L covers approximately 50 linear metres of single-skin (110 mm) or 25 linear metres of double-skin (220 mm) brickwork. Remmers recommends the complete WTA system with Remmers SP renovation plasters.
Westox
Westox 50 Low Odour
Low-odour silane cream DPC — occupied buildings (AU)
Westox 50 Low Odour is a low-odour silane injection cream for chemical damp-proof course installation in brick, blockwork and porous masonry, used within the Westox Chemical Injection (low-pressure) system. The low-odour formulation suits occupied buildings where conventional silane creams cause odour complaints. It is an Australian product (Westox / Westlegate Pty Ltd) sold to approved applicators only; the product page does not publish chemistry detail, active %, drilling spec or coverage — these are calculated by an approved applicator. Injection alone is insufficient — salt-contaminated plaster must be stripped and replaced.
System Comparison
Silane cream chemical DPC injection — confirm all selections against the current manufacturer TDS before specifying.
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DPC injection without replastering is incomplete treatment — plaster failure will recur
- Chemical DPC injection creates a barrier to further capillary rise but does not remove salt contamination already present in the existing plaster
- Old plaster must be stripped to a minimum 300mm above the visible salt tide mark — salt damage in the plaster extends well beyond what is visible
- After injection and plaster removal, the wall must be replastered with WTA-compliant salt-resistant renovation plaster — standard cement or gypsum plaster will fail in the presence of residual rising damp salts
- No non-breathable surface finish (ceramic tile, vinyl, non-breathable paint) should be applied until the wall has fully dried — confirm drying period with building pathologist before redecoration
Confirm rising damp diagnosis before specifying injection — misdiagnosis is common
- Visual salt staining and wet plaster at low level can be caused by condensation, lateral moisture penetration, plumbing leaks or penetrating damp — not only rising damp
- A carbide moisture meter test or gravimetric moisture content test at multiple heights in the wall is needed to confirm a capillary moisture profile consistent with rising damp
- Chemical DPC injection applied to a wall with penetrating damp or a plumbing leak will not solve the problem — the correct moisture source must be identified first
- In some cases, rising damp may be driven by abnormally high external ground moisture levels — drainage remediation may be required alongside DPC injection
Disclaimer
Information is general only. Product selection must be confirmed against project requirements, substrate type and porosity, manufacturer technical data sheets, and applicable standards including BS 6576. Rising damp diagnosis should be confirmed by a qualified building pathologist before treatment. Do not rely on this reference as a substitute for professional advice.