Structural waterproofing is one of the most important steps in protecting your property from water damage. Whether it’s a new construction project or an old house, you need to make sure that no leaks are coming in through your foundation. There are many different types of solutions for structural waterproofing, but not all will work for every situation. We’ll review some of the more common options below, so you can find out which solution would be best for you!

Structural Waterproofing

What is structural waterproofing?

Structural waterproofing is the process of protecting your property from water damage through the use of membranes or coatings.

Benefits of structural waterproofing

There are many benefits to structural waterproofing, including:

Protecting your property from water damage

Reducing the risk of mould and mildew growth, which can cause health problems for occupants.

Keeping the interior environment clean by preventing moisture that may get trapped in the structure. This prevents potential dust mite infestations, as well as deterioration of materials such as wood floors and baseboards due to humidity build-up.

Disadvantages of structural waterproofing

The main disadvantage would be the cost involved with doing this type of work on a home or commercial building. It’s also important to note that you will want an expert when it comes time to do the installation process because if done incorrectly, there could be issues down the road related to leaks.

Areas that would need structural waterproofing

Basements

Your basement is an area that would generally require structural waterproofing. This is because it’s often below ground level, and if not properly protected, water could get in through cracks in the foundation or poorly sealed floor joints.

Underground car parks

For underground car parks, the waterproof membrane is placed underneath the new concrete floor and has to be mechanically fastened (via bolts) onto steel supports or bars.

Cellars

Cellars are also very commonplace for basement leaks to occur due to humidity getting trapped against the foundation wall over extended periods, causing decay from moisture builds up among other problems related to poor drainage.

Tunnels

Tunnels are another example where structural waterproofing may become an issue down the road if they are built without proper consideration for water flow. This can cause major issues with rushing floodwaters in certain climates, as well as leakage problems due to ageing infrastructure over time.

New built properties with earth retaining wall

If you have a new home built on land with an earthen bank holding back soil around your property, this type of construction method can cause major issues down the road after heavy rains when rainwater has nowhere else to go but into your finished living space!

Garages

The garage itself will need to have a solid base with good drainage that slopes away from the walls of your house, not just around it!

What to consider when choosing a structural waterproofing system

When choosing a type of system, consider what the area you need to waterproof is built on. If it is built from brick and mortar, then Type A Protection may be your best bet!

Another thing to consider is what type of climate you live in. Do you need to waterproof your home in areas with high humidity? If so, then Type B protection may be the best option!

Types of structural waterproofing

There are many different types of solutions used when it comes to installing a protective layer between your building structure and whatever Mother Nature decides she wants to throw at you. They include:

Type A (Barrier) Protection

This type is often used on new buildings with earth retaining walls as it creates a waterproof barrier between the soil and the foundation walls. However, some older properties can also be repaired using this method if there’s sufficient space for installation.

Type B (Structurally Integral) Protection

The most common way to protect against water penetration is by integrating a membrane into the structure itself. There is no need for additional support structures because these solutions work to stop cracks while providing structural reinforcement at the same time!

Type C (Drained) Protection

Drainage systems are usually installed in areas where there isn’t enough room to integrate them into the structure. The membrane is installed onto a supportive drainage matting before being connected via tubes and drains directly back to the surface of the soil outside or into an underground tank for storage. We use this approach if your property has already been built and you want to waterproof existing walls, floors, ceilings, etc.

The process we use for structural waterproofing

Firstly, our team assesses each project upon arrival by carefully inspecting it from top-to-bottom using high-powered equipment which can detect any signs of water penetration such as damp patches on internal surfaces like brickwork, plasterboard or concrete wall linings. If there are no visual signs, then cracks in floor slabs will be checked with ground-penetrating radar (GPR), which can detect any signs of defects or movement within the ground.

Once we have carried out this initial inspection and deemed your property to be watertight, a specially designed structural membrane will be installed along with components such as waterproofing expansion joints if needed. These membranes are available in different thicknesses depending on how much reinforcement is required for each project; these vary from 50mm to 200mm thick. Once fitted, they form an effective barrier allowing moisture only one way to escape – through small holes drilled into their surface-while preventing penetration from all other sources, like rainwater coming up through cracks in slabs or spills by occupants making use of bathrooms and kitchens etc. Any excess materials used during installation will be cleared away and the area surrounding it will be compacted to form a flat surface.