And then came this long-awaited moment when, contrary to popular belief about the infinity of repairs, all work was completed: the wallpaper was glued, the tiles were laid, the windows shine with the virgin whiteness of the slopes. Such an event is not a sin, and to note among friends and relieved sigh (involuntary accomplices of your labor feat) neighbors. It is difficult to convey the whole gamut of feelings that have covered you when the meticulous godfather suddenly finds under the brand new windowsill the young shoots of the “money tree” in the form of a green strip of mold. And it’s monetary because you are already mentally calculating what it will cost you to restore to its former beauty. Everything is in order, this is just a terrible dream, but if you do not want it to become a reality, then, having started a construction or repair, you need to take care of high-quality waterproofing even before the stage of finishing.
Waterproofing: why is it needed?
Today, the building materials market is able to offer a ton of solutions to ensure effective isolation from almost any undesirable effects of moisture, whether it is precipitation, groundwater, condensate or emergency situations caused by a breakdown in communications. It is important here first of all to correctly choose the type of protective materials, since each of them has its own priority operational characteristics, and secondly, it is necessary to strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations when carrying out the work. Two priority types of insulation coating can be noted - these are gluing and coating waterproofing.
Okayechny type of waterproofing
The first option is a waterproofing material in the form of sheets (for example, shingles), rolls (euroruberoid) or extruded polystyrene boards installed on the protected area, hot soldered or cold using mastic on a bitumen basis or, in the case of polystyrene boards, using special construction glue.
Due to the simplicity of installation, gluing waterproofing is effective in organizing moisture protection over large areas (roof slopes, ceilings, walls, foundations), which, however, implies increased requirements for evenness and integrity of the surface. Also, there is always a danger of leakage at the joints and in places where the protective material adheres to other planes.
Sealing surfaces with coating
Coating waterproofing made on the basis of liquid mastics and sludge is devoid of such drawbacks. As the name implies, this type of protection implies applying it in the form of a continuous layer, which after hardening forms a seamless, absolutely tight layer, reliably insulating the surface to be covered, including all irregularities and places of interfacing with other building elements. In addition to moisture resistance, the applied coating is able to resist mechanical damage and chemically active media for a long time, while possessing high ductility, which prevents cracking under the influence of temperature changes and uneven shrinkage of the coated surface. Consider the most popular coatings used as coating waterproofing.
Plaster moisture-proof insulation
Mineral mixtures are produced using Portland cement of high grades (white or gray) with the addition of granulate and polymer additives, this type of insulation is also called plaster waterproofing. It is sold in the form of a fine powder, shuttered with water in the required proportions. Such cement coating waterproofing is able to hold pressure up to seven atmospheres, due to which it is widely used for sealing pools, as well as for protecting the basement from moisture when there is a risk of groundwater flooding.
The use of stucco waterproofing is also justified when, in addition to moisture protection, it is necessary to align the insulated area. The solution is applied in layers, with a coating thickness of five to forty millimeters.
Such waterproofing is applied to a brick, metal or concrete base from the side of the probable hydrostatic effect.
Asphalt plaster
Often there is such a definition as asphalt plaster, which is a bitumen coating in the form of cold or hot mastics, applied in two or three layers, each 4 mm thick. To protect against mechanical damage, such waterproofing, when applied to a vertical surface, is sewn up with brick or concrete. If it is used as a coating for waterproofing the floor, then it is limited to 2 layers with a thickness of about 8 mm, subsequently covered with a concrete screed.
Cast asphalt plaster is a hot bituminous mastic, in the case of vertical protection, poured into the space between the external protective wall and the waterproofing surface, and in the horizontal plane it is evenly distributed over the surface. After drying, it is closed with a sand-cement mortar screed .
The types of moisture protection described above are excellent for organizing coating waterproofing of a foundation located in a zone of dangerous proximity to groundwater. In this case, the upper boundary of the treated surface should be at least half a meter above the level of hydrostatic effects.
Examples of liquid waterproofing
Of the liquid moisture-proof coatings, it is worth mentioning first of all the bituminous coating waterproofing, combining ease of application, reliable protection and affordable price, however, its serious toxicity is its high toxicity, because such a coating is mainly used for outdoor work or in non-residential premises.
For internal work, two-component mixtures based on polyurethane are most often used, which are practically odorless, and the most toxic component in them is the price. In this case, the consumption of coating waterproofing is determined by the requirements for the level of protection, and depends on the number of applied layers of insulating material. As a rule, one area is covered from 2 to 4 times, sequentially, waiting for the solidification of the previously applied layer.
Methods for applying cold and hot coating mastics
Coating waterproofing, applied with a paintbrush or roller, is often called painting. When this type of coating dries, it forms a water-tight thin film obtained by hardening paintwork or mastic with bitumen, acrylic, silicone, rubber and polyurethane using asbestos, lime and other additives, which provides a high degree of capillary protection of the coating from moisture . There are hot and cold mastics. In the first embodiment, the insulating material is heated to 170 ° C, after which it can be easily and efficiently applied to the treated area using a paint brush and roller. Cold mastic made of perchlorovinyl, epoxide and other artificial resins can be applied already at +5 ° C, but it costs a little more. Before applying waterproofing, the insulated surface is primed with a weak solution of the same mastic, diluting it with one to three gasoline or white spirit.
A variant of flame spraying is also possible, while the coating is applied at least two times with a drying interval of about 15 hours and a bitumen layer thickness of about two millimeters.
Benefits of penetrating waterproofing
Another very effective way of protecting building elements from moisture is penetrating waterproofing, which is used for materials with a porous structure (for example, concrete). This liquid solution, passing deep inside the surface to be treated, can be used both at the start and at the end of repair and finishing work. Its use is allowed even during the operation of building structures, allowing, in addition to restoring moisture protection characteristics, to protect the reinforcing base from corrosion.
For elements treated with penetrating type waterproofing, strength is increased by about 20%, frost resistance is improved, and there is no need to prime, level, create additional protection or reinforce the protected surface.
Advantages of sprayed waterproofing
In recent years, more and more adherents find, yet outlandish, but very promising sprayed waterproofing based on acrylic, polyurethane resins or, as usual for us, bitumen component. It is applied to an arbitrary area using a paint panel or a special spraying device, providing perfect sealing and high coating strength with a declared service life of up to fifty years. Depending on the thickness, the solidification period of one layer is from 10 to 20 hours.
Sprayed waterproofing is available in different colors, is resistant to temperature fluctuations, has high wear resistance and provides excellent sound insulation.
Bathroom as a testing ground for all types of waterproofing
One of the main places that need high-quality protection against moisture is the bathroom. High humidity, hot steam and condensate falling out from the temperature difference - all these factors create a specific microclimate inside the room. Almost all of the above types of surface sealing are applicable as a coating waterproofing for a bathroom, with the possible exception of purely bituminous mastic and asphalt plasters due to their high toxicity. It is recommended to carefully process all concrete and other porous elements of the room with penetrating waterproofing, including floor, walls and ceiling, at the initial stage of repair.
This also applies to places where ceramic tiles will be laid, because moisture, through seams, can seep inside, accumulating in the voids and porous structure of the glue. Coating waterproofing under the tile is applied on a flat, dry surface, it is especially necessary to carefully process the joints, which are preferably glued with a special waterproofing tape, covering it with a layer of protective solution. For the period of drying of the protective coating (up to three days), it is worth avoiding the use of the premises in order to avoid violating the integrity of the waterproofing.
Sealing works do not require special professionalism, and the waterproofing materials used are relatively affordable, but the waterproofing process itself is quite laborious, requiring accuracy and time. But you must admit, many years spent in the dry and comfortable walls of your home are worth the effort.