Wednesday, March 12, 2014

What To Know When Choosing Waterproofing Materials

By Jamal D White


Waterproofing materials protect buildings from water penetration, which would otherwise cause cracks and other damages to such structures. Different materials provide various levels of flexibility and protection to buildings depending on their type. Therefore, when looking for waterproofing materials, you would need to consider various important factors.

Among the main things to consider is the capability of the waterproof material to endure the effects of different chemicals. The chemicals released by buildings can affect the versatility and durability of various waterproofing materials. Consequently, you should choose waterproof materials capable of withstanding the chemicals that can emanate from such buildings.

You would also need to know whether such materials are easy to apply. If you choose materials that are easy to apply, there would be lower chances of installation errors. There would also be reduced cases of construction delays that would delay the completion of such projects.

You should also know whether the potential watertight material can perfectly stick on the substrate. This is to avoid the lateral movement of water between the substrate and waterproof material. It is essential to look for materials that have been proved to adhere fully to the potential substrates to restrict the movement of water to the structures in case of leakages.

If you are using roofing membranes, you need to know whether they can resist the impacts of substrate movements due to change in temperatures. You would also need to know if the material is resistant to hydrostatic pressure that can cause cracking and leakages. Knowing these things would ensure you get a membrane that would not allow the penetration of water to your building.

Additionally, you need to test the liquid waterproofing material for water rigidity before buying them. This would help you know if the material is suitable to be used for your building. In addition, it can enable contractors avoid problems of using the wrong materials on wrong substrates.

It is also important to know how such materials were manufactured. Quality waterproofing systems should have been manufactured in a controlled environment in order to guarantee the production of steady uniform thickness. Its components should also have been provided by certain manufactures to ensure that the material offers better performance and compatibility. When choosing, it is important to remember that, materials with varied thicknesses would have a wide variance in their performance.

Fitting your buildings with waterproofing materials is important to enhance their performance. This is because the better a building can resist water leaks, the higher the probabilities of withstanding cracks in addition to other damages. However, since not all waterproof materials may be the same, it might be necessary to be cautious when selecting to make sure you get the right material that can work according to your construction needs. Knowing these essential factors will help you make a suitable decision, on which materials to select and the reasons of selecting them to make sure you can derive the best results.




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