5 top reasons for seepage and 5 external walls waterproofing solutions to manage it
Top reasons & best solutions to manage external wall waterproofing.
Why are the four walls of a home so important?
Is it because they provide you with a space to live? Or is it that they provide you with a safe enclosure that you can call your home or office where you can work, live and lead a productive life?
Steven Covey, the author of the world-famous book “7 habits of highly successful people,” believes that the most significant work we ever do in our lives is done within the 4 walls of our home or office. That is because we spend the highest amount of time in our entire lives inside these four walls!
Hence, it is important to make sure that these walls are in good condition so that they can provide us with pleasant working conditions where we can live and prosper. This is the reason why external wall waterproofing is critical to ensure that the 4 walls we stay in are free of dampness and remain strong not just in our lifetime, but even for the next generations.
Here are the 5 top reasons why external waterproofing fails and the 5 top solutions to rectify them.
1. Poor workmanship
This is one of the key reasons why external waterproofing fails in most cases. Unlike earlier, today most external walls are not load-bearing walls, but their fundamental purpose to protect interiors continues. Poor workmanship during the construction phase or any repairs later can leave a lot of cracks causing the wall to allow moisture inside the structure. This failure to contain the moisture makes the wall damp thus attracting fungus and algae thus creating a hygiene threat to the lives of the people staying inside. Growth of such algae and fungus also creates dark patches which create a very undesirable look on the inside as well on the outside. If the waterproofing of the wall is not done right, eventually the wall may even become weak thus threatening the stability of the structure itself!
2. Use of inferior-quality material
Another top reason for the failure of external wall waterproofing is the use of inferior or inadequate quantities of waterproofing material during the construction or repairs of the external walls. By its nature, cement emits heat when it is set. This heat is emitted through micro fissures and cracks in the walls. However, if the right varieties of waterproofing chemicals are not used in the right quantities then these cracks remain and water starts seeping through them over time.
3. Continuous leakage from pipes
Most external walls have a system of pipes fitted on them that carries the stormwater or even the wastewater from the various amenities provided to the occupants. If the joints in such pipes are not sealed correctly, this wastewater starts leaking on the walls. Eventually, they may even lead to the growth of some algae, fungus, or even small plants which creates cracks in the external wall waterproofing. Continuous exposure to such wastewater can make the plaster layer weak and allow water to seep in.
4. Unplastered wall surfaces
Many times, the external walls are either left fully unplastered or plastered minimally. This may be due to aesthetic reasons or due to financial constraints. But in either of the cases, an unplastered or poorly plastered wall allows moisture to seep in.
5. Puncture from outside
If a wall is punctured from the outside by way of driving a nail or even to accommodate a new fixture, it may lead to the creation of microscopic cracks that are not visible to the naked eye. Over time, water starts seeping in through these cracks thus causing the external waterproofing to fail.
However, not much is lost if you discover that the external wall waterproofing has failed. There exist a variety of exterior wall waterproofing solutions which can cure the problem and provide the occupants with long-term peace of mind.
Here are some of the most used external wall waterproofing solutions worldwide.
1. Avail the services of experienced waterproofing solution applicators
Being one of the top waterproofing contractors in Mumbai, we at AWC know that if care is taken during the construction stage itself, the probability of experiencing an external wall waterproofing failure is reduced considerably. Once constructed, finding the source or cause of leakage is the primary task before any external wall waterproofing activity can be undertaken. Hence, one must always prefer an experienced applicator who not only knows what solution to apply but more importantly knows how to identify the source of leakage in the first place!
2. Use the right variety of waterproofing chemicals in the right proportion
Besides being one of the most sought-after waterproofing contractors in Mumbai, AWC is the manufacturer of top-quality external wall waterproofing chemicals too. Products like AWC Wallmate and AWC Elastic are considered to be one of the best external wall waterproofing solutions that are currently available. They can either be used during the construction phase itself or even when a leak is detected at a later date. These products when used in the right quantities by a trained applicator not just provide the much-needed anti-UV radiation property, but also form elastomeric surfaces which prevent crack formation.
3. Check for the source of the leakage
If an inhabited structure develops a leak, then the first step is to identify the source of the leak and plug it in permanently. Unless this is done, the moisture will keep finding new places to enter the wall and hence the interiors of the structure. Even the use of the best external waterproofing solutions will prove ineffective if the source of the leak is not identified and plugged in.
4. Protect the external wall surface
Protecting the external wall surface with plaster is the least that can be done. Applying AWC Wallmate or AWC Elastic or any other equivalent product can give such exposed surfaces adequate strength to withstand the natural elements and any other form of leakage.
5. Be careful when puncturing the external wall.
Every puncture creates microscopic cracks irrespective of how carefully the job is done. Hence, once the wall is punctured, then the entire area must be treated with an external wall waterproofing solution to plug all visible as well as microscopic cracks to prevent any future issues.
External waterproofing is important because these four walls provide secure, cozy, and comfortable working and living spaces to us where we can fulfill our dreams and lead happy and successful life.
Hence, make sure that these 4 walls remain strong enough by using the right external wall waterproofing solutions!