Protecting your home from moisture is crucial for preventing mold from growing and other disease causing problems. Water proofing is one of the most effective ways of doing this. It is unlike damp proofing that only slows down the moisture from entering your house. Instead, water proofing will prevent all moisture from entering at all. This is a long term solution that will keep your home safe from moisture and its negative effects. Problems such as rising damp and damp walls can be solved better with water proofing.
Water proofing can be defined as being the prevention of outside moisture such as rain water from entering the house. This can be done using materials that are rubber based and are able to stretch over cracks. When building a house, it is important to get the water proofing done by specialists during the building process. However, you can also have water proofing done after the house has been built. The experts in this field can assess your home and look out for spots that are vulnerable to moisture problems and do the damp treatment for you.
Water proofing is important to have for several reasons. First of all, it will be healthier for the occupants of the building. Water proofing not only prevents moisture from entering the home, but is also minimises the amount of humidity in the building. This, then, makes it more comfortable for people to live and work in.
Water proofing is also important for the integrity of the building. Moisture can damage the structure and foundation of the building and thus, make it unsafe to live in. You will, thus, lose out on a lot money that you would have put into buying the home. It would be much cheaper for you in the long run to have the water proofing done.
Water proofing is very important for the home and should be considered in order to prevent any problems in the future. Having to deal with damp repair after years of damage can cost more than simply having your home water proofed by experts in the field.
Now that you know that you should water proof you beloved family home and what benefits you’ll be able to enjoy once you have, let’s take a look at some of the materials and techniques that are used for water proofing.
Waterproof Membranes
These have become increasingly popular, because they are easy to install and offer immediate effectiveness against water problems. The membranes are highly adhesive and elastic making them the perfect choice when water proofing floors, basements, foundations or balconies. As such membrane adheres well to a combination of materials i.e. wood, concrete, masonry…
Coatings that are Bitumen based
These are primarily used in new buildings however they may be used in restoration projects as well. This product provides guaranteed water proofing for decades and apart from this, Bitumen based coatings are not only environmentally friendly it is user friendly as well making it ideal for DIY projects.
Coatings that are acrylic based
This specific product is made up of quality acrylic resins that are flexible and environmentally friendly; the product is user friendly and suited for use on various surfaces including the roof.
Coatings that are PU based
PU or Polyurethane based waterproofing will last longer than most others and it will never lose its elasticity making it perfect for various areas such as: walls, roofs, tile areas, floor foundations, water tanks and water wells.
Keep in mind that even though most waterproofing products are user friendly, not every Tom, Dick and Harry can do it. There are still certain specialised tools that you may require in order to do the job properly and you at least need some basic knowledge regarding waterproofing. So if you are uncertain it may be better to call in the professionals, it may cost you a bit more but at least you will have peace of mind.