In the business of building houses, the idea of waterproofing had always been part of the whole package. Waterproofing is ensuring that the basement and the foundation of the house are free from cracks and other holes where water could enter or seep through.
Of course, the need for waterproofing is obvious. A waterproofed basement increases the owner’s living space. The unused basement can become another room – a recreation room, a workshop quarter, or an entertainment area.
Benefits
If the basement is your present storage area, waterproofing the place is a must to protect your belongings from water damage. Keeping your basement walls and floor dry and clean eliminates musty odors as well.
The absence of water lowers the amount of moisture in the basement which keeps away potential allergens. Dry air in the basement also makes it more comfortable to be in – not feel sticky in the summer or chilly in the winter.
Damp-proofing
However, in the old days of building houses, builders often mistook damp-proofing with waterproofing. Waterproofing and damp-proofing may be related, but they are totally different in their scoops.
For years, foundations were merely damp-proofed, not waterproofed. As it was, damp-proofed foundations and basements were only able to stop water vapor. It was unable to bridge over the cracks that can develop in the foundation over the years.
With time, water in the ground can develop its own hydrostatic pressure and can push through foundations that are only damp-proofed. After some time, damp-proofing materials may also become brittle and increase the risk of water seepage.
Waterproofing
With the new advances in technology, today’s waterproofing membranes have rubber polymers that allow spanning the cracks in building foundations. Sealed cracks in foundations prevent water from entering the basement.
There are many forms of foundation waterproofing in the market today, with the most common being the polymer-modified asphalt. (This is actually a liquid asphalt coating with added rubber polymers.)
Rubber polymers
The rubber polymers allow the asphalt to stretch over foundation cracks and form a dry, seamless and continuous barrier to water and moisture.
Another advantage of polymer-modified asphalt waterproofing is lower installation cost. Because it is liquid, the material is easily sprayed onto a foundation wall with a high rate of coverage and, consequently, results in lower cost of labor man-hours.
Other options
Of course, keeping foundations and basements dry do not only depend on waterproofing. It should begin from the time the building is constructed all the way up to the finishing touches.
One important aspect of waterproofing is a functioning ground water drainage system. This could be a process where water is drained to daylight or is collected into a sump pit and removed by a sump pump.
This foundation drainage system is to remove ground water that accumulates around a foundation or under the basement floor.
Another important consideration in waterproofing would be the soil grading around the building foundation. Soil grading should slope away from the building, if possible. This is to avoid the risk of water pooling around the building which can get above the waterproofed areas.
Waterproofing is an aspect that should not be ignored in construction of commercial buildings. Moisture and humidity could cause serious damage to any property, over the long period of time. Water and moisture could seep into the crack of the walls and floors, a serious threat to the stability of the structure.
A commercial building should be properly monitored over time to determine if there are water seepage and moisture problem occurring after construction. Property managers and owners would often hire commercial waterproofing professionals to inspect if the property is still waterproof.
Waterproofing inspectors would check different aspects of commercial inspection like detecting leaks and recommending repairs for it. Inspectors should not recommend “easy fixes” which could eventually cause more serious problems in the future. They would also recommend the proper sealants that would be suitable for the building’s condition and even color.
Structural problems are not the only dangers of water seepage, moisture and humidity. These conditions could cause molds and mildew to grow. Such growth could be detrimental to the health of the residents or workers in the building. Severe mold and mildew growth could sometimes cause the building to close down for treatment.
Rain and storms are not the only elements that a commercial building should be prepared for. Internal air condensation and water leaks could also contribute to the building’s moisture accumulation. Using permeable or poor materials and badly sealed structures are also factors.
There are different kinds of commercial waterproofing which building owners and managers could take advantage of.
• Waterproofing surfaces using sealants, paints, coating plates, epoxic materials, polymer, silicone, plastic and metal coats.
• Waterproofing products which are already part of the concrete or could be mixed with to improve its resistance against moisture
• There are also waterproofing materials that would help the structure to deal with changing temperature like emulsions and asphalts which are water or solvent-based.
• Interior waterproofing systems that would remove water which is accumulated inside. A French drain could be used to channel the water out of the building which would be eventually pumped out of the building through a sump pump.
Internal waterproofing to keep water out like insulation or membranes applied on walls and floors.
When hiring a commercial waterproofing provider, the first thing that you should do is check the credentials of the provider. Check previous clients and if they were satisfied with the work. There are different building codes which could cover building waterproofing. It is important that these codes are followed, you could check previous contractors if they were able to meet these requirements.
Before signing any kind of contract, make sure that the system they would be installing or recommending to you would actually improve the building condition. There are some providers who would recommend low-priced alternative but they actually cause more harm that provide a solution.
Waterproofing protects your property, whether it is residential or commercial, as long as you will be making the necessary steps in choosing the right system for your needs and condition.
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