Things to consider before selecting Waterproofing Membranes

Whether it’s a new build or an existing structure, all waterproofing applications should be installed by experienced, licensed waterproofing contractors. Our objective in this article is to make some useful recommendations for the things you may be unaware of on the subject of waterproofing.

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1.         Evaluate the perimeter of your house: Make sure that the ground next to your foundation slopes is away from the foundation, and not towards it. Dirt which is installed as ‘Backfill’ around the foundation, typically at retaining walls, tends to compact over time and settle lower than the surrounding dirt, which is already packed and established. This causes the overall falls to slope towards the house, as opposed to away from it. If necessary/practical, add more dirt up against the foundation to create at least a 150mm per meter slope against the foundation. The top of the dirt should be at least 150mm below the sill plate so that there is no ground contact which can cause certain building materials to rot over time.

2.       Treat your walls with products such as Drylok or Xypex if you have minor leaks: Drylok is waterproofing compound, not a water sealer. It expands as it cures effectively to become part of the wall. Xypex is more akin to applying a waterproof concrete on the surface that bonds with it. Because Xypex relies on the presence of moisture to form its waterproof crystalline structure, if a Xypex application does have small areas of water penetration it would seal itself as it cycles through moisture. You should expect to pay up to 4 times as much for Xypex as you would for the Drylok system. The major limitation with these types of solutions is that groundwater which is underneath the basement floor or at the wall/floor junction will generally be built up with a significant amount of negative pressure, due to the weight of groundwater above it.

3.       Repair defects in walls such as cracks: If you notice a crack in a concrete wall, it may continue right through the wall to the outer surface and is a potential source of water penetration. Any cracks that are not subject to thermal or structural movement can be treated with DRYLOK Fast Plug, which is very effective in sealing cracks in masonry.

4.        Consider installing a sump: Simply put, this is a hole in your basement floor which contains a pump. When the water level in the sump rises too high, a pump kicks in and draws the water out of the sump, discharging it approximately 3m away from the residence.

Things you must know About Lift pits Waterproofing

A Lift pit is a crucial point in construction which has considerable place in the architecture of most multi-storey buildings. Four of the most commonly used waterproofing systems for lift pits include; Self-Adhesive/Torch Applied Bitumen Sheet Membranes, Liquid Applied Polyurethane/Bituminous Membranes, Fibreglass Liners and Cement-Based render systems. Following is a selection of facts which helps Durotech understanding the causes of leaks as well some measures to be taken, by qualified licensed Water proofers and Durotech Accredited Applicators.

1.       The most common cause of leaking lift pits is to do quality of installation. This can point to several different issues including a lack of adequate primer, insufficient detailing and membrane application which does not meet the required thickness. Incorrect membrane selection can also be detrimental to the quality of the overall application.

2.       The installation of Self-Adhesive bitumen sheet membranes can be particularly difficult in poor weather conditions. There is also a tendency not to mechanically terminate these types of membranes, which often leads to poor adhesion quality over time.

3.       Some Cement-Based Membranes can be sensitive to low temperatures, particularly in situations where the temperature can get as low as 5°C.

4.         Fibreglass liners are suitable but the major limitation is that it’s a very labor intensive procedure and can easily fail if concentration is not at a premium during application. The system is quite rigid and limitations also exist with regards to permanent elongation quality.

5.       Bolt Holes, which often run through the walls and the Wall/Floor junctions are the main sources of water ingress, thus it’s important that the lift pits are backfilled correctly for the success of any proposed waterproofing systems.

Waterproofing Membranes | Waterproofing Products

DURO MASTIC™ P15- DURO MASTIC™ P15 is a modified acrylic urethane membrane. It has been formulated to create a tenacious bond to most surfaces. It forms a tough, flexible waterproof membrane with a high film strength and exceptional elongation and elasticity that will expand and contract under normal substrate movement. It is supplied as a thixotropic liquid, which is easily applied to both vertical and horizontal surfaces.

DURO MASTIC™ ACS- DURO MASTIC™ ACS is a liquid applied acrylic membrane which, when reinforced and fully cured, forms a flexible waterproof lining for showers and other wet areas. It forms a waterproof lining to most building materials including reinforced concrete, cement render, water resistant plasterboard and fibre cement sheet flooring etc. The surface must be firmly fixed to manufacturer’s directions, free of protrusions, dirt, oil and other contaminants and surface must be dry.

DURO MASTIC™ACS Fibre- DURO MASTIC™ACS Fibre is a liquid applied co-polymer membrane containing a fibrous filament reinforcing, when fully cured DURO MASTIC™ACS Fibre forms a flexible waterproof lining.

DUROMIX™ACS-2- DUROMIX™ACS-2 is a two part high solids liquid / cement copolymer membrane with fibre reinforcement. DUROMIX™ACS-2 cures rapidly to form a flexible waterproof lining for showers and other wet areas

DURO MASTIC™ TOUGHSET- DURO MASTIC™ TOUGHSET membrane is a single component, high solids, waterborne membrane modified with acrylic, urethane and SBR. This membrane has been formulated to create a tenacious bond to most surfaces, DURO MASTIC™ TOUGHSET is a tough flexible waterproof membrane with a high film strength, that will expand and contract under normal substrate movement. It is supplied as a thixotropic liquid, which is easily applied to both vertical and horizontal surfaces. The formulation is fully optimized to ensure quick tack free time.

DUROPROOF™ PPM- DUROPROOF™ PPM is a high quality, superior performance single component liquid that cures to rapidly to form a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid membrane that is tack free, high modulus, tough, flexible and suitable for exterior use.

DUROPROOF™ PU Black- DUROPROOF™ PU Black membrane is, liquid applied, modified polyurethane elastomeric waterproofing membrane with Class lll elongation, which when fully cured forms a permanently flexible waterproof lining to building surfaces, including reinforced concrete, block work, brick work, metal, wood, cement render, plaster board and fibre cement sheet flooring. Use is only for non-exposed areas.

DUROPROOF™PU White- DUROPROOF™PU White is a high quality, superior performance single component liquid polyurethane which cures to form a tough and permanently flexible waterproof membrane.

Duro Clay Liner- Duro Clay Liner is a laminated composite sheet membrane containing bentonite clay.

Bentonite is natural inert clay, formed from volcanic ash that absorbs water. It can swell to form an impermeable mass that prevents the passage of liquid and provides waterproofing properties. Fibres from the non-woven geotextile fabric are needle punched through the layer of bentonite to ensure there is no movement of the clay in handling and cutting around penetrations. Through its ability to swell it can withstand minor movement and all joints are self-sealing at the overlap. This product has been developed for use in basement weatherproofing, sandwich-slab construction and lift shafts.

DURO MASTIC™ DURAROOF- DURO MASTIC™ DURAROOF is a liquid membrane product based on a unique double cross-linked copolymer system. It does not contain plasticisers or oils that can leach, degrade or contribute to dirt-pickup. DURAROOF is used as a fully exposed membrane or beneath a tiled mortar bed. It can withstand occasional light foot traffic. The product is water-based yet offers strong resistance to water-ponding. The cured membrane has exceptional flex and elasticity for good crack-bridging properties while at the same time maintaining good tensile film strength. DURAROOF has excellent resistance to UV, color fade and chalking. DURAROOF membrane is easily maintained, recoated and repaired .The water content is low which enables fast drying, and thick films to be built up quickly. The product is supplied as a thixotropic liquid, which is easily applied to both vertical and horizontal surfaces. It complies fully with the test requirements of AS: 4858-2004 “Wet Area Membranes” and passes at Class III, the highest level in the Australian standard.

DURO MASTIC™ BLW- DURO MASTIC™ BLW is a liquid applied, latex modified bituminous elastomeric waterproofing membrane which, when fully cured, forms a permanently flexible waterproof lining to most building surfaces including reinforced concrete, block work, brick work and cement render.

DUROPROOF™ BL- DUROPROOF™ BL is a solvent based, mineral reinforced bituminous compound formulated to provide a heavy-duty waterproof / protective coating for use on exposed surfaces above and below ground. It is liquid applied and cures to tough, flexible lining that have an excellent resistance to water, chemical and weathering.

DUROPROOF™ BLF- DUROPROOF™ BLF is a fibreglass reinforced roof repair compound used to maintain and repair most roofs and gutters. DUROPROOF™ BLF is ideal for leaking box gutters, even emergency repairs in rain. DUROPROOF™ BLF forms a flexible fibre reinforced waterproof lining to all common building materials-metal, asbestos, slate, felt, asphalt, concrete, wood and plastic with typical service life of 5 -10 years.

Duro Torch SBS- Duro Torch SBS and SBS Mineral are bituminous, plastomeric, torch-on sheet membranes. They consist of a special compound based on modified bitumen, selected elastomers and non-woven spunbond polyester reinforcement. The SBS modified waterproofing compound assures good flexibility at low temperatures and excellent elongation and resistance to movement.

Duro Torch 3MM- Duro Torch 3MM is a bituminous, plastomeric, torch-on sheet membrane. It is manufactured from a compound based on selected distilled bitumen modified with atactic polypropylene polymer bitumen (APP) and reinforced with a high strength non-woven polyester fabric. The combination of high performance polymer bitumen and 160gsm non-tear polyester reinforcement provides a durable system ensuring good flexibility at low temperatures and excellent heat resistance.

Duro Torch Mineral- Duro Torch Mineral is a bituminous plastomeric torch-on waterproofing sheet membrane. It is manufactured from a compound based on a selected distilled bitumen modified with atactic polypropylene (APP) and reinforced with a high strength non-woven polyester fabric. The upper side is finished with a uniform layer of colored slate chips. The combination of a high performance polymer bitumen and 160gsm non-tear polyester reinforcement provides a durable solution ensuring good flexibility at low temperatures and excellent heat and UV resistance.

Duro Torch FB Base Sheet- Duro Torch FB Base Sheet is a bituminous Reinforced plastomeric sheet membrane, with a non-woven polyester fleece on the underside. It is manufactured from a compound based on selected distilled bitumen modified with atactic polypropylene polymer bitumen (APP). The combination of high performance polymer bitumen and a high strength polyester reinforcement provides a durable system ensuring good flexibility at low temperatures and excellent heat resistance.

Duro Torch V Base Sheet- Duro Torch V Base Sheet is a membrane consisting of a compound based on oxidized bitumen reinforced with a glass fibre matt. The combination of a high performance polymer bitumen and a high strength glass fibre mat reinforcement provides a durable system ensuring good flexibility at low temperatures and excellent heat resistance. This technically advanced membrane performs well in the extremes of the Australian climate.

Duro Torch Car Park- Duro Torch Car Park is a bituminous, plastomeric, torch-on membrane. It is manufactured from a compound based on selected distilled bitumen modified with high grade atactic polypropylene polymer bitumen (APP) and reinforced with a high strength non-woven polyester fabric. The combination of high performance polymer bitumen and a high-strength polyester reinforcement provides a durable system ensuring excellent heat resistance.

Duro Torch Garden- Duro Torch Garden is a bituminous plastomeric torch-on waterproofing sheet membrane. It is manufactured from a compound based on selected distilled bitumen modified with atactic polypropylene (APP), anti-root additives and reinforced with a high strength non-woven polyester fabric. The combination of a high performance polymer bitumen and high strength polyester reinforcement provides a durable solution ensuring good flexibility at low temperatures and excellent heat resistance.

Duro Stick SP- Duro Stick SP is a self-adhesive bituminous elastomeric waterproofing sheet membrane. It is manufactured from a compound based on a selected distilled bitumen modified with selected elastomers and tackifiers and reinforced with a high strength nonwoven spunbond polyester fabric. The combination of a high performance polymer bitumen and non-tear polyester reinforcement provides a durable solution, ensuring good flexibility at low temperatures, excellent heat resistance and adhesion to various substrates. Manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001, this technically advanced membrane performs well in the extremes of the Australian climate.

Duro TPO Sheet- Duro TPO Sheet is manufactured from flexible polyolefin, and contains no plasticizers, making it compatible with bituminous membranes, asphalt, steel profile sheeting and other single ply systems. Duro TPO may be fully adhered, mechanically fixed, loose laid, and ballasted.

Duro TPO FB- Duro TPO FB is manufactured from flexible polyolefin, and contains no plasticizers, making it compatible with bituminous membranes, asphalt, steel profile sheeting, and other single ply systems. It has a non-woven polyester fleece on the underside.