subject: Concrete Waterproofing And The Benefits In Building Applications [print this page] There are many anomalies when considering concrete waterproofing. Not least of which is the strange individuality of organic compounds when mixed with chemicals. You can never be too certain as to the outcome. That being said, whatever solution is used, it is vital to look at the condition of the concrete and note its position in relation to water.
Sealants such as the topical asphalt based ones have been, and still are one of the prime methods of protection against water erosion of walls and foundations. Methods and products are constantly evolving. There are several additives for instance, which are designed to protect from water vapors that percolate through concrete causing much damage.
There are for example a number of additives which are created as a hedge against damp. Water vapour penetrating through concrete is highly damaging and can cause collapse of structures. Today's market is chock-a-block full of new sealants that do the job of keeping water out. These are formulated specifically according to the amount of waterproofing that is desired.
They are claimed by manufacturers (in the case of exterior sealers) to allow superb protection against even the most robust weather conditions. These high specification products use special blends that can be absorbed into the fabric of the concrete making it impervious to even the worse kinds of water-based conditions, including stains. They are claimed to be suitable for pond and pool sealant, with the chemical barrier they provide. That makes them ideal for the average do it yourself yard job.
The spread is up to three hundred and fifty square feet, and the mixture is pressure sprayed or rolled on to the concrete surface. An extra (and huge) benefit is that this type of sealers act as a defence against crayons or painted graffiti, acting in similar fashion to Teflon coating on pots and pans. There are products that are based on crystal technology. The concept is simple; since concrete is porous, by introducing special crystals to the mixture, as they grow they seal the pores, or air pockets in the concrete. The good thing is that when the inevitable cracks appear overtime, in the concrete, as water penetrates, it feeds the crystals and they begin to grow again and fill in the cracks. Brilliant!
There are also products on the market whose foundation is based on the new crystal technology. It is a simple idea; because concrete is porous by nature if you mix a special type of crystal to the mixture, as the crystals grow and expand they automatically close up the gaps in the concrete. It is a very efficient technology for sealing up those hairline cracks that often appear overtime. The crystalline mixture can be troweled in to fresh concrete, sprayed on, added to water and simply applied to existing or new structures.
Many of the sealers mentioned in this article contain ingredients such as silica, pozzolans, and (ash like substance) which strengthen and protect from water vapors and moisture generally. A further benefit of these additives is the fact that they also resist the effects of solvents and oil based damage, as well as offering resistance against scaling and pitting of the surface, making concrete waterproofing more durable than ever.
