Anybody who builds a property or a structure, whether its a house or any other building, would want to protect their investment and ensure it stays in great condition for as long as possible. After all, you don’t want to waste all your hard-earned money on building something that won’t last long, right?
One of the main considerations a property owner and building contractors keeps at the top of their list is protecting the property from the elements, especially water. While water is a precious commodity, as a force of nature, it does considerable — sometimes, catastrophic — damages to properties.
What is waterproofing?
What is waterproofing? Why is it an important part of securing your home and making it stand the test of time?
Waterproofing, at its simplest definition, is treating a surface to protect it from the damages that water could bring. The process helps certain objects become water-resistant or water-repellant that leaves said objects unaffected by the negative impacts and effects that water. This is most helpful in protecting a building and structural foundations.
Why should you waterproof your home?
Whether you choose to use Sika products or some other waterproofing material, waterproofing your property establishes barriers over its different surfaces and areas. This barrier prevents water from breaking through the surfaces that could cause damage to them.
Different countries have different provisions for waterproofing homes but generally, almost every building code requires contractors to waterproof buildings and structures to ensure the safety and protection of both life and property. The most common areas of the home that require waterproofing are walls, basements, bathrooms, kitchens, balconies, decks, roofs, terraces, pools, and water tanks.
What are the different methods of waterproofing?
- Cementitious Waterproofing
The easiest waterproofing method is cementitious waterproofing. The materials are easy to find, just go to any waterproofing products supplier or masonry shop and you’re sure to walk out with the materials you need to get the job done.
Since the materials are easy to mix and apply, this method is widely used for indoor areas that are prone to getting wet like toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens.
- Liquid Waterproofing Membrane
This method involves the application of a thin coating of primer and top coating. This can be done using a trowel, a roller, or a spray. While the cementitious method is a bit rigid, the liquid waterproofing membrane method offers more flexibility.
The materials’ durability highly depends on the polymer type that the manufacturer used but at best, it increases your coat’s elongation property to as high as 280%.
- Bituminous Coating Waterproofing
Also known as asphalt coating, the bituminous coating method is ideal for concrete foundations as it is an excellent waterproofing and protective coating agent.
The coating is made of bitumen-based materials not suitable for sunlight exposure. Extensive exposure to sunlight makes it brittle if it is not treated with flexible materials such as polyurethane.
- Bituminous Membrane Waterproofing
This method is popularly used for low-sloped roofs because of its tried-and-tested track record. There are two types of this particular method: the torch-on-membrane and the self-adhesive-membrane.
These membranes have a thickness of 2mm to 4mm of waterproof materials and have an elongation of 150% to seal any and all cracks.
- Polyurethane Liquid Membrane Waterproofing
Perhaps the most expensive method in this list, this is used for roof decks which leave it exposed to weathering. Because of its exposure to the elements, the material offers a higher level of flexibility.
Careful thought should be given when using this method since polyurethane is sensitive to the moisture content that is present in concrete slabs. If done wrong, the waterproofing will be ineffective and will increase and hasten the occurrence of peeling and debonding.
Whatever the waterproofing method you choose, you will not regret making the decision to protect your investment from the damages that water and moisture can bring.
