Concrete block planters - mortar joints

[Markathorpe84]

Hi folks,

I’ve built and mostly filled planters but not yet rendered. There’s a DPM on the inside too. However....I noticed yest by accident that if water gets behind the DPM (I was messing with the hose), it fairly quickly makes its way out through the mortar joints.

I didn’t use waterproofer but have it ready for the cement/sand render mix.

I’ll seal the DPM at the top so there shouldn’t be any way for water to get in once the render job’s done but wanted to know if this is normal? It really caught me off guard how quickly water got through when I didn’t have anywhere to go!

 

[lostinthelight]

you need the water to drain out somewhere at the bottom or your pants can get waterlogged

 

[Markathorpe84]

Oh I know
I’ve got a good 20cm of gravel and the DPC only covers the inner sides not the bottom so no concerns about water draining. It was more the speed it got through the mortar that had me worried.

 

[lostinthelight]

Im not sure why that would worry you though

 

[Markathorpe84]

If the water somehow got behind the DPM on the inside of the planter, could it not move outwards to my render on the outside damaging it? It shouldn’t happen as I’ll fix the DPM to the inside of the planter....but if it somehow did?