It is crucial to waterproof homes before the calamity occurs. The saying ‘Prevention is better than cure’ holds exceptionally true for waterproofing. Because if not taken care of in advance, the remedial work for correcting below-grade waterproofing systems happens to be costly. These simple fact has germinated new trends in waterproofing like the birth of a strong belief in owners and designers to undertake reliable waterproofing services to remain devoid of any water ingress in the future.
It is no surprise that the remedial costs can be substantially higher than the initial cost to install waterproofing at the time of new construction. Also, corrective waterproofing services in India may not stand successful at eliminating all water leaks.
The Indian construction industry has been using passive SBS waterproofing membranes with some success, but more and more failures in present times have forced the industry to develop composite layers for enhanced reliability.
The problems with waterproofing services in India can be the result of:
Value engineering eliminating components in waterproofing system or decreasing its quality
Choosing wrong waterproofing membranes for wall casting
Tight construction schedules hindering sequence and inspection
Construction practices that damage waterproofing materials post installation
Materials and designs that are deemed inappropriate to site conditions
Materials installed incorrectly
Generally, the costs of waterproofing are kept in proportion to performance. Waterproofing systems with high performance are priced the highest. While contractors bargain by comparing waterproofing materials, they do not understand that different membranes produce different results, and they must be suitable for site conditions. Like sheet waterproofing membranes can be hugely expensive as compared to waterproofing admixtures, both processes claiming a similar result of providing watertight structure.
Designers must examine product components and installation ways of waterproofing systems by their performance, and construction methods to make an informed decision.
Let us take an example of waterproofing admixtures. When introduced into concrete mixes, they offer integral waterproofing capabilities. They work within the concrete to prevent moisture transmission by affecting its pore structure. The effectiveness of admixture waterproofing is limited by the way cracking is controlled.
Cracking in foundation walls creates an entry point for water to migrate. Contractors use remedial polyurethane foam to repair cracks and stop water migration through concrete cold joints. Also, admixture waterproofing material is not a separate barrier material that is applied to exterior walls. Thus, the project team has to consider the acceptance level of the increased level of corrosion in the foundation walls as water most likely penetrates the structural foundation before it can be stopped by admixture waterproofing in cracks.