All buildings, homes, or any structure used to house humans and their property have a few things in common to make it possible for us to use the space comfortably. One of these things is waterproofing. No matter whether you’re designing a home or an office for your needs, you’re going to need great waterproofing services. In fact, it’s one of the main concerns of most building contractors and property owners.
While we all need water to survive, many sources of water like typhoons or burst pipes can do considerable damage to your property and even the structure of your building can be affected. Waterproofing is a basic but highly effective method to prevent this from happening.
What is waterproofing?
Simply put, the act of waterproofing is applying safety measures to protect materials, items, or surfaces from water damage. For buildings, this involves many processes, most notably treating them with substances to help them become more resistant to water and protects them from its negative effects.
Why waterproof your building?
Ever wondered if you could skip out on waterproofing measures for your home and whether you should do it? The truth is that most countries, including Singapore, have building laws and regulations that require you to waterproof your home, so you won’t be able to get away with it. But even if it were allowed, you should still seriously consider hiring a waterproofing specialist because the services they provide extend the longevity of your building infrastructure.
In fact, certain building materials are unsafe to use without proper waterproofing. One popular instance is when concrete is used, which is common in many commercial buildings. The most important reason for this is because moisture can easily seep into the material. As concrete is a highly porous material, it can absorb and retain water. If your concrete pillars or materials have cracks or other structural defects, water can easily pass through and deteriorate the quality of your concrete. Not only that, but concrete is always reinforced by steel beams when used for support. If water enters the concrete through cracks and reaches the steel beams, it can cause the steel to rust, degrade, and corrode, which is extremely dangerous.
Methods of waterproofing your home or building
Now that you know how important it is to waterproof buildings and other structures, the next step is to figure out what methods to use to waterproof them. There is more than one type of waterproofing method and the most successful ones are the methods that are most appropriate for the area. Most homes and buildings utilise a variety of methods to completely waterproof the entire structure. The best idea is to find a waterproofing company that can help you figure out which methods or type of waterproofing to use.
It is also a great idea to leave the waterproofing jobs to the professionals, as these tasks can oftentimes be complex endeavours that cannot be done by average people. For example, roof waterproofing should not be DIY’ed because doing repair jobs on roofs is dangerous.
Here are some common methods for waterproofing your homes and where it is appropriate to use them.
- Cementitious Waterproofing. One of the most popular methods of waterproofing, the cementitious waterproofing method is great because it is simple. It is so-named because it uses cement. For this method, you can easily find and obtain the materials from a waterproofing product supplier. It is commonly used in moisture-prone places like bathrooms, showers, and kitchens.
- Polyurethane Membrane Coating. This is a particularly expensive method but is so reliable that it can be used for a diverse range of purposes, most notably for roof waterproofing. Useful on roof decks, it is highly resistant to weathering and can withstand the elements. Keep in mind that polyurethane membranes should be handled with expertise and care, especially on some surfaces, as it can peel of and debond if applied incorrectly.
- Bituminous coating waterproofing. Also known as asphalt coating. This method is most commonly used for concrete foundations that are not exposed to sunlight. Keep in mind that exposure to sunlight can make any waterproofing using this type of coating can turn brittle and can break.
General Waterproofing provides you with a range of services like wall leakage repair, basement waterproofing, and more. Contact us to know more about how to keep your home safe and dry.