Why Waterproof?

Why Waterproof?
One of the most common building defects that our engineers come across day-to-day, are related to a lack of, or failure of waterproof membranes. You may be wondering, what exactly is a waterproof membrane and how do they help?

Well, as you may have thought, a waterproof membrane is something that is applied across the surface of the structure to prevent or lessen the effects that water may have on it. Why is it important to have an appropriate membrane though? The reasons are many, but the short answer is that water often leads to many difficult and expensive to fix problems within structures. Anything from the corrosion to the steel reinforcement in concrete, erosion, swelling of timber, to the delamination of materials and efflorescence.

One of the most common surfaces that these are applied to is concrete. Unlike what you may be thinking however, it is not only applied to areas that are at obvious risk of being affected by water, such as bathrooms and kitchens, but is usually applied universally. Other areas that are at particular risk include rooftops, balconies and basement areas.

There are a few different kinds of membranes, and its important to make sure that you apply the right one for the right job. Types of membranes, along with their general use include:

• Cementitious Waterproofing Method is very commonly used for wet areas such as toilets and bathrooms. It is a semi-flexible or rigid type of waterproofing and not exposed to weathering or sunlight. 
• Bituminous Coating Waterproofing Method is basically a coating of a flexible asphalt layer or in general practice we call it coal-tar.
• Polyurethane Liquid Membrane Waterproofing Method is an expensive method and less used at site. It is very flexible membrane that is carefully applied to avoid peeling after some time. Used for roof /terrace and the areas that are exposed to weathering.

​If you are experiencing any leaking water, or an accumulation of efflorescence, get in touch with us today so we can help you build a better solution.