Necessary Tips To Make Your House Concrete Waterproofing

Waterproofing is the most basic attribute that a modern house can have. Its importance to our lives is immense. You obviously don’t want rainwater dripping upon you while you’re relaxing in front of a fireplace at home. So it is necessary that your house is waterproof. In order to do so, you need to understand and maintain certain relate measures. A waterproof house can be free from the structural damages brought by water penetration and prevents the growth of molds and other life-threatening organisms. It also reduces the chance of infestation by insects.

Concrete Waterproofing

Understanding important types of waterproofing

Concrete Waterproofing, by definition, is the process by which any structure can be made water-resistant. This water resistance stems from the concept of surface tension and hydrophobicity. According to a popular theory in chemistry, water resistance can be only offered by material that has high values of angle of contact with water. This causes the water droplet to curl up which then can be effectively removed. This theory indicates that when such a material is used to coat your house, the surface of the house becomes highly hydrophobic, causing minimal interaction between the wall and water. Such materials and types of techniques are: 

• Bituminous Waterproofing Procedures: Bitumen is been used for a long time to waterproof several huge structures like houses and ships. The procedures involve two different approaches - tar membranes and bituminous covering. The first method involves coating the entire surface with pieces of the membrane which is coated with bitumen. These pieces have an adhesive that helps them to stick to the surface. The bituminous covering method is described as covering the entire surface by liquid tar, making the surface water-resistant. Common bitumen is often mixed with acrylic resins to make the covering sunlight resistant. 

• Cementitious Method: This method involves covering the surface with cement to make it waterproof. This type of waterproofing is used in places like the bathroom which is protected from sunlight and weather. 

• Liquid waterproof compounds: This method employs the use of liquid polymers which form a rubbery coat on drying. It then helps in resisting water. 

• Polyurethane Liquid Membrane: This type of concrete waterproofing solution involves coating the surface (usually flat roofs) with liquid polyurethane. This method has a requirement that says that the surface should be extremely dry or else the film will not set properly, causing warping and debonding of the membrane.

| Read Also: Why Do You Need Balcony Waterproofing For Your New Home? |

Concrete Waterproofing

How to maintain concrete waterproofing solutions?

This segment highlights some pointers which play an effective role in the maintenance of the waterproofing measures. 

• Presence of clogged gutters: The gutters can cause deleterious activity in the basement of the house. Clogged gutters accumulate water which wet walls and cause water damage.

• There should be a distinct slope to reduce the contact time of the water with the surface. For roofs, the slope should lead away from the roof. For basements, the slope of the land should direct the water away from the ground.

• Material used: Materials differ from each other in hydrophobicity. One of the best materials available for waterproofing is polyurethane. This material is usually expensive and requires skilled labor for its application. The lifetime of such a coat is long enough to balance the initial investment.

• Chances of condensation: Poor ventilation can lead to the accumulation of water vapor which condenses the cooler surfaces, increasing the chances of damage from water.

With the distinct advantages of waterproof such as increased property value and the ability to customize the waterproofing measures according to the user’s need, a waterproof house is an absolute must. This article can sufficiently guide you in choosing the right concrete waterproofing solution for your house and its needs.  So don’t adjust with the damp and musty smelling rooms, waterproof your house to feel the warmth and comfort inside.