Concrete with and without waterproofing? - Titan Waterproofing (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you don't waterproof concrete? ›

Poor waterproofing can lead to leaks, mould, and harmful growths in the concrete. These issues could risk safety, decrease property value, and render the property unfit if neglected.

Waterproofing is also required to eliminate deterioration to the concrete that can occur from exterior and interior chemicals that are present at the building site. Concrete is vulnerable to chemicals due to three of its primary composition characteristics: permeability, alkalinity, and reactivity.

You can make the concrete waterproof, durable, and strong by adding concrete admixture for waterproof into fresh concrete. To get more information about Baumerk's concrete and grout admixture products, you may contact Baumerk's expert team.

Acrylic concrete sealers have the shortest lifespans; they typically last somewhere between 1-3 years. Epoxy and polyurethane concrete sealers generally last around 5-10 years. As for penetrating sealers, silicate sealers last as long as the concrete does, which can be decades.

Without sealant, water can seep into a concrete driveway and lead to considerable damage over time, especially in areas known to fall below freezing during the winter months. Water seeps into the pores, then freezes and expands, which can lead to significant cracks.

Disadvantages of waterproofing

Negative side waterproofing does not provide protection from freeze-thaw cycles and is limited to the application of cementitious systems.

Keeping concrete moist is essential to the concrete curing process, but too much water and the concrete may not form in the way it needs to. If it loses too much moisture through evaporation, it will not cure properly and will become prone to cracks.

Fortunately, there is an easy and cost-effective way to waterproof exterior concrete. One of the best concrete sealers is the Siloxa-Tek 8500. It is a penetrating concrete sealer designed to treat a variety of applications with an emphasis on hydrophobicity and reduction of water uptake.

This is done by continuously wetting the exposed surface thereby preventing the loss of moisture from it. If water evaporates too quickly, it will weaken the finished product with stresses and cracking. To put it simply, the goal is to keep the concrete saturated during the first 28 days.

Sika® Watertight Concrete Powder is a combined water resisting and HRWR/Superplasticising admixture, used to enhance the workability of and reduce the water permeability of concrete.

What is the best cement mix for waterproofing? ›

Being 1 part waterproofing to 10 parts water. If this ratio (1:10) is not respected, we can have moisture problems in the walls in the future. The water prepared with the mixture is used to hydrate the cement and sand mixture (1:4). We mix it all with an electric mixer for greater hom*ogeneity, speed and convenience.

Xypex crystalline admixture is blended into the concrete mix at the time of batching to become an integral waterproofing solution. Admix C-Series has been specially formulated to meet varying project and temperature conditions.

The seal on your concrete will fade over time, especially in high-traffic areas. This can lead to an uneven look that bothers you. You'll have to maintain it. Once you seal your concrete, you'll need to reseal it every year.

Structural Protection: By preventing water from penetrating the foundation, exterior waterproofing safeguards the structural integrity of the building more directly than interior solutions, which primarily manage water once inside.

If it loses too much moisture through evaporation, it will not cure properly and will become prone to cracks. Many construction specialists recommend watering it down five to ten times per day, for the first week, starting 2-4 hours after it has been poured.

Light rain or drizzle typically poses minimal risk to fresh concrete. A little drizzle can sometimes be beneficial as it helps support a moist curing environment, which aids in concrete strength development.

Properly curing your concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and resistance for many years. The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately.

Prevents damp, mould and mildew – Protecting against erosion isn't the only reason why waterproofing your concrete is a good idea – it can actually combat damp, mould and mildew too once the structure is complete.