Waterproofing membrane is an important part of construction as the structure needs to be protected from the leakage of water especially during monsoons. The membrane waterproofing provides is a cost-effective solution to protect the building.
The improper work being done on the waterproofing can have a serious negative impact on the structures, pose health risks to the residents of the building, and increase the cost of maintenance.
For an individual who has a requirement to do waterproofing for their house or building it is necessary to have knowledge about the process, application method, and the key parameters based on which a right contractor to be chosen for the membrane waterproofing.
A waterproofing membrane is a layer of watertight material that is used to protect the structure from leakages and damage. The process usually consists of applying liquid or pre-forming sheet membranes.
Why is membrane waterproofing important?
The main purpose of waterproofing is to protect the structure from leakage of water and protect it from damage. The future repair works can also be avoided with the help of waterproofing. Without proper waterproofing the structure of the building may have a long-lasting impact due to which the structure may not be able to last for a longer duration.
If the water enters the structure, then there can be a long-lasting impact on the structure. The structure may become weak, there could be deterioration and breaking due to which repairing the building may be required.
- Safety of the building: If the waterproofing is not done in a proper way, then the structure may pose a serious threat to the people residing inside the building. The integrity of the building may be affected resulting in an unsafe environment.
- It is a way to strengthen the structure: Waterproofing can help in maintaining the strength of the structure thus helping in increasing the life span. If waterproofing is not done the structure may become rusted, rotting, structural defects may be caused and may also cause damage to the property.
- Create a healthier environment: Waterproofing can help maintain a healthier structure and prevent it from getting damaged. If waterproofing is not done in a proper way, then in that case the water may enter the gaps of the building due to which fungus and mold growth may happen which can lead to damage and poses serious health issues.
- Way to reduce the maintenance and increase the property value: If the waterproofing work is done in a proper way, then it can drastically reduce the maintenance cost of the structure and prevent the entry of water into the structure.
The protection of the structure from getting damaged due to water is very important. The air vapor carries 98% of the moisture which enters inside the building thus affecting the quality of the structure.
Air passes from the high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas which may lead to entry into the hole or cracks of the building. Waterproofing can protect the building from causing harm to the building. The building remains safe from airborne pathogens.
In the case of commercial buildings as well it is essential that the structure should be properly maintained, and proper waterproofing should be done to protect the structure from getting damaged.
The commercial building, if affected due to the dampness, may lead to a loss of business and may lead to lower productivity of workers due to the unpleasant atmosphere inside the building.
How to use membrane waterproofing:
The product of waterproofing chemicals has significant awareness but still, there is a lack of awareness regarding the multiple uses of waterproofing.
The following surfaces where the membrane waterproofing can be used:
- Basement waterproofing membrane: The basements are prone to leakages from the upper house surfaces. The polymer-modified Cementous coating can be used as the waterproofing membrane to protect the basement from leakages.
- Waterproof membrane for roofs: Pre-manufactured membrane sheet is beneficial for the waterproofing to be done on roofs. It is one of the best water-resistant membranes used to protect roofs from rainfall or heavy winds.
- Waterproof membrane for walls: The liquid waterproof membrane is used for moisture-proofing retaining walls. The membrane is easy to use, and the liquid membrane helps secure the structural movement and fills the gaps between the walls.
- Bathroom waterproofing membrane: There are chances of high moisture inside the areas like the bathroom or kitchen. There could be stains on the walls or else cracking of tiles could happen. The bathroom waterproofing membrane can help avoid dampness inside the leakages in bathroom walls, floors, or swimming pools.
Related Post: Steps to Protecting Bathroom from Leakage with Waterproofing Chemicals
The difference between the membranes and key aspects of selecting waterproofing membrane types:
There are different types of waterproofing membranes required for different structures to ensure the protection of the buildings. The waterproof membrane can help protect the basement and the roof from getting damaged. The waterproofing of the building can be a wise decision as it can help avoid costly repairs like joint problems and cracking.
The structure can be protected through liquid membrane waterproofing or chemical waterproofing depending upon the application or else maybe multiple layers of prefabricated sheet membranes.
Below are the different types of membrane waterproofing:
Self-adhesive modified bituminous membrane:
It is made up of asphalt, polymers, and tackifiers and may also contain mineral stabilizers. It can be reinforced by fiberglass, polyester, or in a combination of both. Products used outdoors, or otherwise exposed to the elements will generally be surfaced with coatings, films, mineral granules or other opaque surfacing.
Polymer-modified bitumen membrane:
The polymer modifies the bitumen membrane and is amongst the widely used membranes for waterproofing purposes.
EPDM membrane:
This is an excellent quality, preformed elastomeric waterproofing membrane from high-quality EPDM rubber that gives high tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, and weathering, heat-aging, ozone, UV rays, acid, alkali, and oxygenated solvent resistance.
Thermoplastic membrane:
This type of membrane is different from any other membrane. TPO-based sheets may be made with UV absorbers, colorants, flame retardants, or other inclusions to provide specific physical properties.
Bituminous membrane [Asphalt]:
It is in this regard that hot melt liquid bituminous rubber blend structural waterproofing systems with interlaid reinforcement can also be used for roof and podium it provides watertight continuity in deck applications, offers seamless waterproofing for high green roofs and podiums, and recommended for winter applications where low temperatures sometimes are there in the region.
Polyurethane membrane:
These come with enhanced fiber content, and watery polyurethane membranes suitable for waterproofing applications where as in this case, a membrane is to be covered with concrete beds, screeds and tiles.
They are an excellent option that possesses very good adhesion properties for application onto building substrates like concrete, masonry, renders, cement sheeting, wet area sheet surfaces, and plasterboard surfaces.
Chemical grouting to seal cement structures:
Hydrophilic chemical grouts have flexibility and resiliency after full cure. This allows for movement of the structure, without breaking the seal. Hydrophobic resins are rigid, and do not recover from compression, once cured. When the structure moves, most likely the cell structure will be damaged, and leaks will reappear. Hydrophobic chemical grout has low viscosity and easily infiltrates loose and unconsolidated soils.
Application for water-proofing membranes:
Waterproofing is essential irrespective of the location, size, scale or type of building, of any structure to protect its integrity. The longer the leak happens inside the building, the higher the chances of the building getting damaged. Stopping a minor leak is better than repairing the structure when a major fault happens.
Careful examination of the materials to be used and prior membranes:
Understanding the way a building responds to the harsh climatic conditions and weather conditions accordingly the material of the building needs to be used.
Cleaning of the area:
Preparation requirements may vary depending on the type of material used and application methods. The user of the product should ensure that the surface is cleaned and that the materials are being made available before the membrane waterproofing. It is essential that the user of the waterproofing membrane should make the surface clean from dirt, debris, and other contaminants that damage the surface.
Application of the membrane material:
The installation of membrane requires skilled labor as the thickness should be appropriate else installation errors may happen. In the case of the use of sheets of membrane joints between the sheets should be proper and should have perfect application to avoid the risk of leakage.
Complications that may be caused during the application process:
If during waterproofing, any complication of this membrane occurs, in that case, water may enter through the membrane, creating leakage.
A few examples of poor workmanship are as follows:
- Poor workmanship being done due to unskilled labor can lead to errors or the wrong membrane being used.
- The re-emulsification and splitting may happen if the membrane is excessively thick.
- If the membrane used is excessively thick then in that case the thicker coat may restrict the movement and thinner coats may result in excessive wear, forming ruptures and blisters.
- Some imperfections, such as deflection in waterproofing, could only occur if the waterproofing was done before structures were finished.
Destructive testing for checking the structure’s integrity:
Destructive testing can ensure whether the installation of the membrane is done properly or not. Also, destructive testing ensures whether there is any leakage in the structure. It is the process of trying to pull out the material, and water, and really make sure the seal is functioning.
Routine maintenance & inspection should be done to keep the structure in proper shape:
Periodic maintenance of the structure can prevent from damages happening and once again verification can be done whether the installation is done properly or not. Checking the failures can help in avoiding future costly repairs to the building.
The role of inspection in maintaining membrane:
After the waterproofing is done, certain steps can prevent recurring water damage and may not require further maintenance. Constant monitoring of the membrane is essential for getting the idea about future signs of leakage of the membrane. Proper attention should be given to waterproofing membranes such as staining and cracks as most damages have visual cues when water damage happens.
How to select a waterproofing service provider:
Efficient waterproofing requires skilled manpower for the installation of the membrane. A proper selection of contractors may help in the correct installation of the waterproofing membrane on the very first attempt.
Below are the factors to be considered for the selection of the right waterproofing contractor:
- Company history: As waterproofing is a skilled job. The contractor should be chosen in such a way that they should have expertise in waterproofing and should have good reviews of the services. Also, the contractor should have sufficient experience in taking such contracts and should be professional. The contractor should follow up with the client once the work is done.
- Awards and certificates: If the contractor has won awards and certificates then it proves that the contractor is professional ones, and the customer should go ahead with assigning the contract.
- Licensed and bonded: The customer should ensure that proper licensing for the area and has proper liability insurance. The warranty by the waterproofing manufacturers may be rejected if the work is not done by the licensed contractor.
- Written contracts: Having a written contract can be beneficial to both the customer and the contractor. The contract should contain details about the proposed work, an estimation of the time required for the work to be completed, and the estimated cost of the work. The customer should ensure that the guarantees and warranty provided by the contractor should be mentioned in the agreement.
- Prioritizes safety: The contractor shall make proper provisions for the safety of his team, the customer, and the property in which the work is going to be done. The waterproofing equipment and machinery used are intensive and potentially dangerous. The waterproofing team one engages should always put safety first, and making this choice may help avoid delays, mistakes, and other additional costs.
- Offers inspection service: The contractor should do periodic inspections of the work whenever water damage becomes apparent. A skilled waterproofing contractor should have knowledge about the pinpoint of the leakage and should take appropriate action to resolve the leakage. The contractor should be able to resolve the issues whether it is in the internal phase or external phase of the building.
- Understand the various waterproofing materials: There are many ways in which the water may damage the building. These may include peeling paint, damp spots on basement walls, and rusting of tools and appliances. Thus, the contractor chosen should be the right one who knows how to identify the faults in the structure and should be able to work accordingly.
- Guarantees on membrane if it fails: Ensure that the contractor has the option of additional membrane service if required. This helps the customer save costs in case the work is not done in a proper way by the contractor on the first attempt. The customer should not be liable to pay any money to the contractor if the waterproofing is required to be done for the second time.
Waterproofing is essential for the business and building integrity:
Waterproofing is essential to protect the integrity of the building. The businesses may get affected in case if there are leakages or dampness inside the building. Also, a negative impression may be created in the minds of people if the building is affected due to the leakages.
Conclusion:
Thus, we can conclude that waterproofing is an essential part of the building as it protects the structure from getting damaged. The use of a waterproof membrane can ensure that the building is protected from leakages and damage caused to the structure.
An experienced contractor should be appointed for the waterproofing of the structure as the work should be done in a proper way and should not be affected again once the work is completed.
The customer should ensure that the written agreement is made with the contractor and the work should be covered under warranty in case of failures in waterproofing.
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