What are the Methods of Waterproofing & Materials Used for Waterproofing?
Written by adminJanuary 20, 2022 Among the reasons that reduce the life of the foundation, and, therefore, a residential building, are precipitation, melt, and groundwater. Poor-quality (or damaged) internal basement waterproofing cannot withstand moisture penetration. The most formidable consequence will be corrosion and destruction of reinforcement; this will be followed by the destruction of the foundation, which takes on the entire load. The whole house may be in disrepair.
Why Do You Need Internal Waterproofing?
For Interior Basement waterproofing NYC to fully fulfill the responsible protection mission, it is necessary to choose the right method, carefully observe the technology and use suitable materials.
Cellar waterproofing is necessary if:
- In this area, the groundwater level is high, and periodic (seasonal) flooding of the basement occurs;
- Due tо mistаkes mаde during соnstruсtiоn, соndensаtiоn fоrms оn the wаlls оf the bаsement; insulаtiоn is damaged, wаter рenetrаtes the bаsement;
- It was decided to convert the basement into a living space (a restroom, a workshop, a gym).
Why is the Basement Wet?
A leak or high humidity in the basement can cause material damage to the owner in the form of a crop that has died from mold and fungus. A threat to human health and the home’s condition also becomes probable. To fix the problem, you need to determine the causes. They may be:
- change in GWL or climate (seasonal);
- foundation defects (poor-quality filling or seams);
- defects in the waterproofing of the outer surface of the walls;
Types of Waterproofing
Interior Basement waterproofing of the ceiling and floor (horizontal). The laying of the waterproofing of the floor is carried out in any case during its installation since it is impossible to predict the change in groundwater level in the future. Leaks on the ceiling can appear due to heavy rains, so they prefer to insulate it.
Vertical basement waterproofing from the inside. Necessary if there is no drainage system or groundwater level reaches the level of the walls. In such conditions, work is combined with a horizontal insulation device to prevent the appearance of moisture inside the room.
What Materials Are Used For Waterproofing?
Groundwater sealing from the Interior Basement water proofing is carried out using different types of building materials, forming two main groups:
- built-up;
- Painting or coating.
There are several methods for performing waterproofing, taking into account the characteristics of the building, the surrounding soil, and the materials themselves.
Penetrating Insulation
Penetrating waterproofing of the basement from the inside from groundwater is carried out using special materials that can penetrate the structure of concrete or brick. The соmроsitiоn оf the рenetrаting elements inсludes сement-bаsed роlymer аdditives. Uроn соntасt with wаter, they fоrm а mаss thаt fills the smаllest роres оf the wаlls.
This group of waterproofing is Penetron, a penetrating material for primary waterproofing of concrete structures with unlimited service life. The mixture is applied to the wet concrete surface, penetrates the holes in the concrete, and forms crystalline structures in it. Such crystals prevent water penetration, increasing the strength and corrosion resistance of the surface.
Cement-Based Waterproofing (Cement Mixtures)
It is used for walls in combination with penetrating waterproofing, and it has the maximum adhesion (sticking) among all materials. Coating cement mixes are available in rigid (dry mixes) and flexible (dry mix and polymer emulsion) materials.
Liquid Insulation (Coated)
They are used as basement floor waterproofing material, also suitable for outdoor insulation work. It is made in the form of mastic.
Roll Insulation
Refers to gluing varieties, uses materials with bituminous impregnation. It creates a protective layer on the floor but does not protect the foundation. They are used together with a coating material, laid with a gas burner. This method is not recommended for processing walls, as it will make the room’s interior decoration impossible.
Membrane Waterproofing
Interior Basement water proofing NYC from the inside from groundwater can be carried out in two ways, depending on the groundwater level:
- Polymer film. It is a roll material with a thickness of 0.2 mm, used for sealing if the basement floor is located above groundwater.
- Profiled. This is a corrugated sheet (studded or pimply) made of multilayer polyethylene, used if the groundwater level is above the floor level. The material is attached to the wall; it is designed for long-term water retention (during the entire period of operation of the house).
Injection Protection Against Moisture (a Penetrating)
This method allows you to secure the inner surface of the walls and floor and the supporting structure. It is applicable in active water leaks or defective areas (voids in concrete).
It needs injectors to work. Cement or polyurethane compounds are used as mixtures, which expand and push water out of the structure’s thickness. Injection protection allows high-quality waterproofing of the basement.
It is carried out in various stages:
- holes covered in concrete; they stagger
- the injector is inserted into each hole
- the pump is connected in turn to each injector
- Sequentially under pressure, the mixture is poured into the holes
Conclusion:
In addition to the cost of materials, the cost of work may include the dismantling of the old coating, cleaning and dust removal of the surface, installing a cement screed, surface priming, and other work as agreed with the customer. A qualified specialist will determine the detailed list of necessary work individually. Every owner of a private house, garage, or country house equipped with a cellar deals with the need to waterproof the basement walls from the inside. Building materials are different in purpose, features, and benefits. Properly chosen treatment of a basement-type room will protect against dampness protect against mold and fungus. In a waterproof building, not only the dry microclimate, which brings health to the inhabitants, is valuable. An important result will be the maintenance of the reproductive capacity of the foundation and, as a result, the strength of the structure.
