Waterproofing Solutions 
Waterproofing saves time and money. So if you want to make sure your surface stands the test of time, look to professional waterproofing services. This will ensure that the surface will never be damaged by water and will ensure a continuous seal.
What is Waterproofing?
Waterproofing is defined as an object that is impermeable to water or resistant to water, relatively unaffected by water or resists water ingress under specified conditions. It is the method by which a product is made resistant to water damage. It is a barrier formation designed to prevent water from entering or escaping from various parts of building structures.
Water penetrating into buildings causes the iron in the load-bearing parts of buildings to rust and reduce their carrying capacity. Water causes concrete to rot and crack. In addition to ensuring the safety of the building, waterproofing prevents the formation of bacteria and mold, and prevents water from dripping from roofs or ceilings, providing healthy and comfortable environments.
In order for structures to have a long life and to provide a healthy, comfortable and reliable area, they must be properly protected against internal and external factors. The most effective way to protect from these internal and external factors is waterproofing. The main elements of waterproofing, which is a branch of expertise, are the right detail, qualified material and healthy application.
Water insulation in buildings is done to prevent water from entering the building envelope and damaging the structural elements, and therefore the structure, regardless of the intensity, condition and where it comes from. The presence of water in liquid or gaseous form in buildings is the most important reason for wear and tear and harmful effects.
In buildings with external cladding, the entire external facade should be thermally insulated as well as waterproofing. Waterproofing paints that can resist the intensity of water should be applied to the external facades for waterproofing. It has been observed that thermal insulation does not provide 100% efficiency in buildings without waterproofing. Therefore, it is useful to think about the benefits that waterproofing will provide you before thermal insulation. Waterproofing made for your buildings extends the life of your building.
How is Waterproofing Done?
Physical conditions that are not only dependent on technology do not always provide 100% successful waterproofing. For example; in old buildings, foundation insulation may not be healthy due to reasons such as the presence of side buildings, later interventions, the ground structure of the region, etc. The place where the application will be made should be seen in person and a solution should be produced. The structure should be examined as a “doctor” to solve the problems of each structure. Example problems and suitability of solutions;
Water leakage problem in the foundation: If it is an old building, it is difficult to drain the surrounding area. The research should be done in many ways. However, control measures can be taken from the inside.
Water tank water leakage problem: Depending on the reinforced concrete conditions of the tank, membrane or sliding-based insulation can be applied.
Terrace water leakage problem: If it is economically and physically possible / or not to completely dismantle and rebuild the terrace under its current conditions, other solutions are produced.
Waterproofing on Reinforced Concrete Surfaces
It is the process of protecting the ground floor concrete against water. Many different processes can be done for waterproofing. Waterproofing coatings are preferred among these processes. For example; membrane applications, which mean cover, are the first to come to mind and are the most preferred waterproofing materials in this regard. These applications, which seem to be cheap systems, are applications made using PVC membrane, fiberglass membrane, polyester felt, and carrier membrane. However, it has been observed that these applications are generally not very healthy due to joints and application errors.
The best method for waterproofing is application-based waterproofing materials. These materials are isolation insulation materials applied with a brush or roller. Application-based waterproofing materials cover the entire concrete surface as a single piece on the reinforced concrete surface without creating joints. At the same time, it provides better adhesion by fixing it into the ground.
In application-based waterproofing systems, the entire reinforced concrete surface is completely closed, the filter edges are isolated in detail, and the waterproofing process is completed by returning to the marble bottom on the insulation parapet. In case of clogging of the filters, a pooling system must be installed in the waterproofing applications to prevent the accumulated water from passing over the parapets or door thresholds and entering the apartment.
Application Areas
A healthy waterproofing must cover all structural elements of the building.
- It is applied to the following parts: Walls in contact with the soil,
- Foundations and table concretes that sit on the ground,
- Applications,
- Water basement levels,
- External walls,
- Window edges,
- Terraces and balconies,
- Roofs,
- Hidden streams,
- Wet areas such as bathrooms and toilets,
- Pools,
- Water tanks,
- Cold expansion joints (dilatations) of structures.
In addition, in landscape areas (areas where flowers, trees, and plants will be planted), effective waterproofing is applied to prevent plant roots from damaging the floor concrete. Waterproofing is also used in areas such as tunnels, water channels, hidden streams, chimney edges, parapets, and balcony overhangs.
Why Should You Have Waterproofing?
Water insulation is usually seen in buildings with ground level below ground level, one of the biggest problems is moisture and water intake problems. Walls exposed to moisture become damp over time, their paint swells and their plasters fall off. Problems in the basement floors of the building’s interior walls, which are underground, cause serious damage to the building carrier, columns and curtains. If possible, the damaged walls should be excavated from the exterior and the building curtain walls should be waterproofed from the positive side and closed again. In cases where external facade excavation cannot be done, negative water insulation should be done from the inside of the building.
Water leaks occur on the floor and walls due to rainwater contact on balconies and terraces or accumulation of water due to insufficient slope, not applying the necessary water insulation, and not fully performing the necessary detail applications. Since it is very difficult to repair and solve the problematic areas on the ground locally, all applications should be done by careful and professional teams from the very beginning.
In terrace waterproofing applications, waterproofing is done with bitumen-based, cement, elastomeric resin, polyurethane-based and transparent waterproofing products. Since sliding-based waterproofing products are used, there is no additional joint in the application and the waterproofing application is done in a single piece on the ground. In addition, polyurethane-based injection waterproofing is applied to prevent water leaks from cracks in terrace ceilings, eliminating the waterproofing problem.
You can prevent damage that may occur in wet areas such as foundations, basements and curtain walls, terraces, balconies, and bathrooms and perform the necessary maintenance and repair for your buildings.
