Why waterproof concrete

Learn More This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. February 9, Waterproofing concrete is essential at below-grade areas to prevent water intrusion and structural damage.

Concrete can crack before or after hardening. Proper surface preparation is required prior to waterproofing installation. Drawing Board. Technical Details: Where is Waterproofing Required? Is there not a better option? Possibly If concrete could be produced which was intrinsically waterproof, damp-proof and corrosion resistant, the Industry would no longer have to rely on the risky business of applying membranes, coatings or other temporary barrier systems.

Many have been shown to be severely limited in their long-term performance due to low dosage or failure to address the mechanism of water ingress by capillary absorption.

To ensure that an effective and reliable system of integral damp proofing is adopted, it must meet the following important performance requirements:. The selection of any construction product must be done with care and this is especially the case with waterproofing of concrete structures. Failure here has been the subject of numerous claims and litigation, something that no professional person wants to be the subject of.

Suppliers of waterproofing admixtures were asked to submit their products for testing. Most of the products were worse than the control in more than 8 of the tests. Everdure Caltite. If you are not concerned about dampness or high humidity levels, then watertight is fine. If, for example, you want a truly dry basement or tunnel or corrosion resistant structure, then you need it to be waterproof. The most important point with reinforced concrete structures is to design and build the structures properly in the first place as there is little point in having a design life stated at years if repairs have to start 10 years after construction is completed.

Premature deterioration of reinforced concrete structures all around the world is a major concern due to the vast amount of money that will have to be spent on future maintenance or re-construction.

Whether one looks at the billions of Dollars spent annually in North America on concrete repairs. Skip to content. Project State required. Work Type required New Rehab. Number of Buildings required.

Number of Floors required. Number of Units required. Substrate required Plywood Concrete. Your Message. Posted by Adrienne Smith In Waterproofing Water breaks concrete down. Some other benefits of waterproofing concrete. It prevents mold and mildew from getting into the walls and floor.

This makes waterproofing essential to structural integrity and health. It reduces maintenance costs and clean-up. With waterproof structures, you have a lot less work to do when cleaning up after a heavy rainstorm or flood. Basic maintenance is much easier, the waterproof factor keeps things clean. Waterproofed walls and floors increase property value. When the time comes to sell, a waterproofed basement or sub-floor is a good selling point.