Table of Contents
- How to make waterproofing qualitatively?
- What is the best way to do waterproofing and how to choose the right method?
- Types of waterproofing materials
- Recommendations: Which waterproofing is the highest quality and which material is best to choose
- Effective waterproofing
- Proven waterproofing
Ensuring high-quality and effective protection of the building from unwanted penetration of moisture and water is the first thing to do during construction. Poor waterproofing of the foundation, foundation slab, seams, basement walls, roof, terrace, balcony, roof, etc … or its absence is the main cause of leaks, the formation of an unfavorable habitat (such as mold and fungus), the formation of cracks and destruction of the building.
How to make waterproofing qualitatively?
In order to make high-quality waterproofing, it is necessary to approach the solution of 3 main tasks correctly:
- Choose the right method and technology of waterproofing – for each specific case, its own best protection technology is suitable.
- Choose a proven and high-quality material – not all materials have the same quality, properties, and characteristics.
- Find a proven contractor who can do the necessary work efficiently – 7 rules on how to find a professional waterproofing company or contractor and not make a mistake
Important: Pay attention to the 3rd point. If you choose the wrong contractor to carry out waterproofing work, then it does not matter how good the chosen method of protection will be or how high-quality and expensive the material will be used – you are most likely waiting for poor-quality work, leaks, and expensive rework of everything that has been done.
What is the best way to do waterproofing and how to choose the right method?
There is no one answer to the question of what is the best way to protect a building from water or what composition is best to choose for this, there is no one answer for all cases of life. Each construction site, house, or building, and each problem is individual and has its own suitable technical solution, and when choosing it, it is necessary to take into account many different parameters, namely:
Waterproofing below ground level – Foundation, wall, basement, socle:
- groundwater level
- type of foundation
- the building material from which the structure is made (concrete, monolith, concrete blocks, FBS blocks, silicate blocks, brick)
- finish surface quality
- presence of cold joints, concreting joints, interblock joints
- future shrinkage of the building (if we are talking about an under construction or recently built structure)
- the presence of a drainage system and other auxiliary structures (blind area, storm sewer, etc.)
- the nature of leaks (when it comes to what to do to eliminate leaks in a built house or building)
- how the construction of the foundation or basement/basement was carried out (the foundation plate was poured first, then the walls or vice versa, etc.)
- deadlines for the work
- budget
- warranty periods for the absence of leaks in the future
- and other parameters
You can read more about waterproofing below the design ground level in the following articles:
- Waterproofing of underground structures and parts of buildings
- How to make waterproofing of the basement from the outside properly
- Waterproofing of the basement from the inside: Methods, materials, and stages of work
- Sealing and waterproofing of concrete, cold and deformation joints
- Foundation waterproofing installation: Methods, materials, prices, and recommendations of specialists
- Waterproofing of the ribbon foundation: Technology and materials
- Waterproofing of foundation blocks and walls
- Horizontal waterproofing of the foundation: The technology of the installation and the materials necessary for this
- Vertical waterproofing: materials and methods of its installation
- Waterproofing of basement and house walls from outside and inside – Methods, materials, prices, and technology
- Waterproofing of bricks and masonry
Waterproofing of roof, terrace, balcony:
- type of roof its minuses and pluses
- resistance of materials to various influences (for example, if the selected system is used as a finishing coating on a flat roof, it must have UV resistance)
- the material used for waterproofing its characteristics, cons, and pros (if it is a question of eliminating leaks of an existing roof or balcony)
- and other parameters
Considering the above, before choosing an effective waterproofing system, it is best to consult with specialists in the field of waterproofing, drainage, and drainage. It is the proven and highly focused specialists in this field who have sufficient experience to see the whole picture. Their knowledge and experience can help you choose the best or most effective way to protect your home from water and/or the best way to eliminate leaks.
You can read more about roof waterproofing in the following articles:
- Waterproofing of the roof: methods of its construction and types of materials for performing high-quality work
- Waterproofing of a flat roof. Recommended materials, methods of their installation, and prices for work
- Waterproofing and repair of pitched roof
- Roof waterproofing repair: Methods, materials, and prices
- Waterproofing of balcony in the house
- Waterproofing of the terrace: Methods, materials, and recommendations for the repair and arrangement with your own hands
Types of waterproofing materials
Pasting waterproofing
Popular rolled or sheet waterproofing materials are used both in private construction and on large construction sites. Rolls or sheets on a bitumen basis are deposited on the surface with an overlap of 10-20 cm. The work is carried out with the help of a burner and a fire.
You can read more about rolled types of materials in the article – “Roll waterproofing arrangement“.
Waterproofing paint
The painting type of waterproofing is mainly applied as paint in 1-2 layers. when applied, the composition forms a thin protective film. The composition of the mixtures can be purchased in almost any store in plastic or liquid form. As a rule, such waterproofing is not very effective.
You can read more about painting types of materials in the article – “Waterproofing paint: Types of materials and technology of their installation”.
Waterproofing coating
It can be applied to concrete or brick bases in 2-3 layers. Brushes, rollers, and brushes are used for application. The coating insulation materials include various mastics based on bitumen, acrylic, and polyurethane. The most effective of the above-mentioned mastics will be polyurethane mastic.
You can read more about different types of coating materials in the following articles:
- Bitumen waterproofing: types, characteristics, and technology of installation
- Polyurethane waterproofing
Sprayed waterproofing
These are materials that are applied to the base using airless spraying. Compositions based on polyurethane, bitumen, or acrylic can be sprayed with these materials. Spraying is carried out using an electric or diesel installation. One of the most popular materials in this category will be liquid rubber.
You can read more about sprayed waterproofing in the article – “Sprayed waterproofing – Spraying technology, its types, and prices“.
Plaster waterproofing
It can be applied with a spatula in the form of cement plaster with various fillers. It is most often used for waterproofing surfaces where there is no high water pressure or risk of future leaks. Such waterproofing will not withstand water in problem areas.
You can read more about cement and plaster waterproofing in the following articles:
- Plaster waterproofing: Types of materials, their specifications, and methods of application
- Cement-based waterproofing: Features, types, and methods of its applications
Penetrating waterproofing
The insulating layer is applied to the surface, penetrating and filling the structure of the base, displacing existing moisture. In case of serious problems with water, this method of isolation will be ineffective and will not stop the flow of water into the room.
You can read more about penetrating waterproofing in the article – “Penetrating waterproofing: Detailed description of its work on concrete, types of materials and application technologies“.
Injection waterproofing
Basically, we are talking about acrylate, helium, silicate, and polyurethane resins of various viscosity and hardening rates. The most effective option for internal waterproofing, repair, and elimination of leaks. Injection waterproofing is fed into the body of concrete or brick using a special injection pump.
You can read more about the injection method of waterproofing in the following article – “Injection waterproofing“.
Comparison of the main characteristics of different materials
The following table shows the main differences between the most famous waterproofing materials, as well as their advantages and disadvantages:
| Sprayed | Coating | Pasting | Penetrating | |
| Method of application | By spraying with the use of facility | Manually | Propane gas Burner | Manually |
| Number of layers | 1 layer for double-component 2 layers for single-component | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2 |
| The need for pre-priming | Available | Available | Available | Not available |
| Seams availability | Not available | Not available | Available | Not available |
| Adhesion with the base | Full | Full | 10-20% | Full |
| Coefficient of flexibility and elasticity | 500-700% | 50-300% | 10-30% | 0 % |
| The speed of work in 1 day by a team of 5 people | 400-600m2 | 30-100m2 | 30-60m2 | 40-100m2 |
| Warranty period for works | 7 years | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year |
Recommendations: Which waterproofing is the highest quality and which material is best to choose
High-quality or the best waterproofing is the kind of waterproofing that can protect your building from water penetration and exposure to an aggressive environment for many years. High-quality waterproofing should have the maximum set of qualities to ensure a proven and reliable barrier. If we are talking about the external waterproofing of the foundation, roof, basement, walls, etc., then the following characteristics will be an undoubted advantage and indicator of high-quality waterproofing material:
Good adhesion to the surface – If the waterproofing floor has good adhesion, then water will not be able to walk under it, moving from one place to another, stagnate in voids and destroy the base forming cracks and voids in it (freezing in winter and thawing in spring).
No seams. seams are the weakest point in any coating. At the slightest dynamics or error on the part of the manufacturer of the work, the seams diverge, which allows water to penetrate through them under the waterproofing coating, violating its integrity.
Elasticity – the more elastic the waterproofing coating, the less likely it is that it will crack or disperse at the seams, during shrinkage of the building, or the dynamics of the base.
If the selected isolation method has the qualities described above, then it can be considered the best of its kind. Only a few waterproofing systems have the above qualities:
- Liquid rubber
- Polyurethane waterproofing
- Polyurea
- Polymer-cement compositions (mostly imported)
Important: The longer the contractor gives a guarantee for his work, the more confident he is in the quality of the solution and material he offers. The optimal warranty is 6-8 years.
It often happens when high-quality compounds and effective waterproofing technologies are more expensive than conventional methods of insulation by the type of bitumen coating, PVC membrane mounting or roll membrane deposition. However, you should not focus on the cost of waterproofing here and now – to make the best decision, look ahead:
- How much will it cost to redo the existing waterproofing when leaks are detected (taking into account the fact that you will have to break the blind area, dig out the house, dismantle the insulation, and then restore it all again);
- The cost of damaged finishes and property;
- The cost of repair in the room, where the water got.
You can get acquainted with the average cost of waterproofing in our online Calculator for independent waterproofing cost calculations :
Calculation of waterproofing cost
The total cost of waterproofing
High-quality waterproofing of the foundation. What is the best way to make it?
When we talk about high-quality waterproofing of the foundation and the better way to do it, then it is best to make it with materials, based on liquid rubber. It is waterproofing with liquid rubber that will serve as reliable protection of the foundation (tape or monolithic) and the foundation slab for as long as possible and that is why:
- 100% adhesion to the surface;
- No seams;
- 600% elasticity will not allow the material to disperse or crack when the building subsides;
- Perfect price-quality ratio.
You can read more about the waterproofing of foundation in the following article – “Foundation waterproofing installation: Methods, materials, prices, and recommendations of specialists”.
Effective waterproofing
Effective waterproofing is the kind of waterproofing that effectively protects your structure from moisture and water penetration, not only directly into the room but also into the products from which it is built (concrete, brick, etc.).
As a rule, the most effective way to perform waterproofing is to do it from the outside of the building.
This will not be an easy effective solution, but the best solution of all possible, since it will eliminate the root of the problem itself, namely the penetration of water and moisture into concrete, brick, and the block from which the foundation and its walls are made. Such protection will not allow water to gradually destroy the elements from which the structure is made (in winter, moisture has absorbed into the foundations and freezes, and in spring it thaws and thereby destroys the foundations of your structure, forming cracks and voids in it).
Effective protection of the building from water and an aggressive environment will allow you to do without annual alterations and repairs of the insulation, which makes it the best solution to the problem of leaks and destruction.
If it is impossible to do the work from the outside, you can always do it from the inside, although this is less effective in the long run. The most effective method for this is injection waterproofing or special waterproofing compounds that work on negative water pressure (from outside to inside).
Proven waterproofing
Proven waterproofing is the kind of waterproofing that has been tested many times and has repeatedly shown its effectiveness during testing. To understand which waterproofing is the best in your case, you need to contact a professional company with relevant experience. It is thanks to its experience and narrow specialization that such a company has most likely tested a lot of materials and will be able to say with confidence which material is time-tested and proves its effectiveness, and which is not.
