Retaining wall waterproofing membrane

Internal Wet Area Waterproofing

Be it Residential, Marine Side, Landscaping, Driveways or Swimming Pools, external retaining wall plays both aesthetic and protective roles. They add beauty to gardens, perimeters and pool surrounds, at the same time they effectively work to keep soil erosion at bay. Retaining walls help eliminate negative impacts on surrounding environment, but this can prove only a temporary solution if the walls are not waterproofed. Please consider the points below;

1.       Before you start the task of waterproofing a retaining wall, make sure you have adequate waterproofing products including the primer, joint sealant, membrane and just as importantly, adequate membrane protection such as Drainage Sheet or Protection Board.

2.       If the wall is precast concrete, the substrate will likely be dry when you come to waterproofing (unless it is rained on prior to waterproofing), if it’s concrete block-it will require core-filling into the blocks prior to waterproofing which will dampen the wall. Be sure to select the most appropriate damp/dry surface primer.

3.       Ensure the substrate is clean, free of dust, sharp edges from concrete core-fill, voids, dust oils and any other contaminants.

4.       The wall should now be ready for the primer coat to be applied, which is followed by the sealant, multiple coats of the waterproofing membranes and adequate membrane protection. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using it directly for specifications regarding the application, required thickness, curing times etc.

Planter Box Waterproofing Membrane

Waterproofing Coating

Planter boxes are made of different materials; concrete, plastic, metal or wood which serve as raised flower beds. Plastic, metal or wooden planter boxes are generally small and portable, meant for domestic use. Whereas concrete ones are big built-in planter boxes as part of the building. In both cases planter boxes are constantly exposed to standing water, wet soil, fertilizers and of course, regional climate patterns. Regardless of their manufacturing material, they definitely need to be waterproofed before they cause water intrusion to the whole building.

Waterproofing big sized built-in Planter boxes

1. The interior of the planter box should be thoroughly clean and dry. So we need to scrap off all debris, soil or any kind of greasy contaminants.
2. Make sure all the gaps, voids and joints are repaired, filled and sealed to have a smooth, even surface. We need to pay extra attention to the drain assemblies to make them leak proof.
3. Thereafter, we brush primer coatings evenly to fill the minor gaps and ensure proper adhesion.
4. On top of it polyester reinforcing fabric and polypropylene can be laid over the primer layer saturating bottom up. Take care not to make any folds or wrinkles.
5. Membranes must to be flexible, durable and adhesive. The system can only be successful if it is done by an experienced and skillful applicator team following all specifications.

Small, Plastic/Metal/Wooden Planter box Waterproofing

1. Clean and dry the box properly. In order for primer to better cling in, scrub the surface (of wooden planter box) vigorously with a piece of sandpaper.
2. Seal the bottom/wall joints, and all other edges, cracks and joints.Polyurethane or silicon based caulk is recommended for this purpose.
3. Danish oil or an oil based varnish can be used inside or outside (in case of wood), for the UV rays protection,
4. Apply coats of sealant as per manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Avoid air pockets while making brush strokes. Brush/roll it backward or comb the wet surface lightly.

Parking Deck Waterproofing

Waterproofing Coating

The design and plan of a parking structure should aim at creating an area which promotes smooth traffic flow, ease of parking and of course, an assurance of safety to the customers/residents. Often, Car Park decks can have apartments, shops or offices under or around them.Leaks and water damage can be very costly to repair and visually, look quite poor with the ingress of salt and efflorescence, which negatively impacts how prospective clients/buyers view the business/residence inside. A parking lot, whether very good or very bad, tends to leave a strong first impression on the customer, which helps either generate business for the property owner, or can be detrimental if in poor condition. A successful waterproofing system is essential for the maintenance and life of any parking structure. In order to visualize this success, the following factors need to be considered;

1.       In order to achieve high-strength and an overall durable parking structure, a low water-to-cement ratio and heat-cured concrete is an appropriate combination when constructing the substrate.

2.       The composition of concrete has the tendency to absorb deleterious chlorides and chemicals which causes serious damage to concrete over time. This happens commonly in areas experiencing ongoing ponding water, where the Car Park substrate does not have positive, unimpeded falls to waste outlets throughout. Positive falls are essential in eliminating ongoing ponding water.

3.       To ensure high-performance, Durotech has available a range of different membrane options, from Sheet Membranes installed underneath, or embedded into the concrete substrate, to liquid applied membranes applied onto the substrate for full vehicular traffic and UV exposure.

4.       Installation of G Channels, Drains/Gutters and Parapet Capping where required are keys for the success of any waterproofing system.

5.       Specifically with liquid systems exposed to vehicular traffic, it is important to note that the coating may be worn down over time (5 – 7 years), particularly in higher resistant areas such as turning circles and ramps. These areas may require periodic re-coats to maintain the warranty. Expansion Joints in the substrate are generally treated separately with an expansion joint membrane and covered with a metal plate or small speed bump, to avoid direct contact with vehicles. Contact Durotech for details about treating expansion joints in Car Parks.

Key Things You Must Know About Roof Waterproofing

Exposed to all climatic variations, the flat concrete roof deck of a building is the area which is permanently exposed to the extremes of the heat, rain fall, wind and all other weather conditions, thus is often subject to a high amount of ongoing thermal and structural movement. In the past, flat roof decks were considered high risk, particularly in residential homes, being a source of unwanted water, whereas a roof should ideally be working as an impermeable envelope to safeguard the whole building against moisture penetration. A thorough waterproofing membrane system must be incorporated to this crucial part of any residential or commercial dwelling to ensure the safety of the entire structure of building along with the inside articles.

Whether treated with a thick layer of concrete, sealed with a concrete additive or poured with positive falls to waste outlets, the root cause of leaks from exposed roof decks is the presence of moisture penetratinginside the roof structure. Careful and skillful installation of waterproofing membrane system is critical in avoiding leaks going forward. There are several points to consider before waterproofing a flat roof deck, some of which are detailed below;

 

Insulated Roof Waterproofing

1.       To ensure a strong waterproofing system, the substrate must be structurally strong to withhold it. For example, we understand that flat roof decks are among the most critical points for waterproofing, given they’re exposed to ongoing UV, rain, high winds and the omnipresent thermal movement between summer and winter, and even night and day, so the substrate also plays a part in the chances of success of the membrane system. A timber/plywood/hebel substrate for example, would not constitute an adequate waterproofing substrate externally, because those materials are not considered strong enough for external waterproofing applications – particularly in high risk areas such as flat roof decks. Durotech recommends a strong concrete substrate as the most appropriate substrate.

2.       Integral waterproofing compounds admixed in the concrete, in lower water/cement ratio, provide a strong concrete base and thus double the strength of waterproofing system. These compounds generally are not strong enough to be used unless in conjunction with a specific waterproofing membrane.

3.       The drainage of unwanted water relies heavily on the following factors; Positive, unimpeded falls to waste outlets, joints with parapet walls, down water pipes (one in every 40m²) and efficient plumbing on the terrace floor. Ensure buildings are structurally sound before waterproofing.

4.       The surface of the roof must fall unimpeded towards all waste outlets to avoid ongoing ponding water.The substrate must also be free of all dust, debris, oils, Laitance and any other contaminants before applying any waterproofing system.

Get More Details on Rooftop Waterproofing Membrane