Best Cementitious Waterproofing Coatings

Why Cementitious Waterproofing Coatings

There is a multitude of cementitious waterproofing coatings and membranes on the market that are designated as suitable for below-grade or below ground use. Many manufacturers and distributors claiming to have the best cementitious waterproofing coatings have a certification application process. This is useful if the work you do is to be guaranteed.

If you’re a DIY or just going to do an odd waterproofing job, then you may not need to be certified.

Experience is a good teacher. The invention of Video Channels such as YouTube enables to learn about any thing. Hand by hand. Moment by moment instructions are available. NONE of this was available 10 years ago. Important to watch any videos available. Carefully follow instructions on the bag/pail, lookup manufacturer, distributor, and reseller website for the technical, application, and safety information. This educates you so you become proficient and be able to work quickly and safely.

There are many waterproofing materials on the market. All waterproofing being done should be researched thoroughly before starting. Carefully review the manufacturer’s literature, email or phone if in any doubt. Site visits by a representative will not always be practical especially for some DIY jobs however an office visit may be appropriate.

Best Cementitious Waterproofing Coating

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Cementitious products are some of the easiest waterproofing materials to use. They’re usually readily available from local suppliers of hardware suppliers, and masonry products, and they’re easy to mix and apply. Come as cement-like powder. Usually, only water is added and then mixed until the correct consistency is achieved.

Usually, all you need to do the job is using this type of material, a long-handled stiff bristled brush will make your life easier. Cementitious waterproofing coatings. The main advantage is that it can and should be applied to a clean damp surface. So there is no need to have dry wall.

According to concrete network.com. “The chief disadvantage is that cementitious products have no give to them probably because cement just doesn’t stretch to any degree worth mentioning. They will stand up fine to a head of water, but will tolerate almost no joint or crack movement.”

My experience with cementitious waterproofing coatings shows that if a concrete wall cracks the membrane will crack. Most membranes have difficulty withstanding such events. Even those that have amazing elasticity can sheer or break at the point of the crack.

Use Drizoro Construction Products because they are cementitious flexing of the structure itself will not cause any issues for the Drizoro Maxseal Flex, Drizoro Maxseal Foundation, Drizoro Maxseal and others in this range.

Madrid Station Spain Tunnel waterproofing With Drizoro Maxseal M

Drizoro Maxseal, when applied to a full sheet of fibro cement, will not crack or flake off when used as a wobble board. Should you be overly concerned with movement issues then use Drizoro Maxseal Flex which has greater flexibility.

For mobile cracks or expansion joints then use Drizoro Maxjoint Elastic Express. This is recommended.

The 3 best benefits for contractors or applicators using cementitious waterproofing coatings from Drizoro are

applied from either side of a building structure to prevent water from penetrating and degrading the building structure. (inside or outside the building structure)
NO NEED to dry the concrete surface. ONLY APPLY TO DAMP SURFACES.
Another benefit is that should a crack develop after completion of the application. Or any time during the life of the structural repairs are much cheaper since the leak is only where the crack occurs. The leak is then repaired. In most cases, from the inside on the internal wall.

Whereas identifying exactly the origin of leaks from other membranes is difficult. Where the membrane has lost its integrity requires an exhaustive process. These other membranes tend to slowly delaminate as the water penetrates behind the membrane, from the initial point. This destroys the adhesion allowing water to flow well beyond the point of damage. So repairs can be much more costly than Drizoro cementitious coatings.

Liquid Membrane Coating

Apply liquid membranes by spray, roller, brush or trowel. Most, liquid membrane coatings must go on completely dry walls The Membrane coating cures into a coating that may feel rubbery, spongy or soft to touch on the wall. The manufacturer has a spray/brush-applied water-based liquid membrane composed of water-based emulsified asphalt. Polyurethane liquid membranes are also available. Use with caution for they are degraded by exposure to sunlight (Ultra Violet light). Even little area left exposed causes then degradation. This affects the viability of the total coating. Water can enter causing delamination of the membrane.

SWEPCO bitumen asphalt coating are No longer available

SWEPCO liquid bitumen, with UV stabilized and a special adhesive to make it Stick to concrete

Many bitumen membranes are still in use in Australia. There were none I have seen that compared to SWEPCO’s cold applied liquid membranes. Unfortunately management has changed and the company has decided to focus on speciality oils.

There are special procedures for the treatment of wall-footing joints, voids, form-tie holes, and joints.

Liquid coatings may be quick and easy to apply. Cementitious coatings also be reasonably inexpensive. Samples of these liquid coatings show excellent elongation.
The major disadvantages are the inconsistency of the coverage. Any pinholes left in such coatings will most certainly come back to haunt you.

Sheet Membranes

There are numerous sheet membrane materials, some are self-adhering, asphalt or even polyurethane membranes. Various thicknesses depending on specification.

Then there are the torch on style sheet membrane.
Usually more difficult to apply as surface preparation, priming, patching, joint treatment, terminations, lap joints, penetrations, and corners.

The major advantage of sheet membranes is the consistent thickness. Supplied at a specified thickness and have good elongation.

Disadvantages of sheet membranes are the costs of the material and labour. Also, the number of joints and seams can represent weak spots with a high potential for leaking.

Concrete Waterproofing Built-up Systems

These types of membranes usually have an embedded layer of polyester or fibreglass to strengthen the membrane. Embedding helps stop crack propagation which destroys a simple liquid applied coating even when applied in two coats.

Membranes with embedded fibreglass. The fibreglass elongation is less than that of the of the membrane. I have seen some applications where the fibre actually pulls out due to its reduced elongation. True of acrylic membranes embedded with fibreglass.

Bentonite

Sodium bentonite, a clay material, has enjoyed some popularity but it comes in panel form. Although bentonite has become the choice of architects and builders. Bentonite Panels work because the bentonite absorbs a tremendous amount of water.

The bentonite clay swells to 15 times its original volume filling cracks and voids. Some alternatives are available which have advantages over bentonite.

Naturally, some waterproofers are nervous about using bentonite panels for the same reason as “sheet membranes”. Finished waterproofing liquid coatings can be inspected. Seal integrity confirmed before backfilling. With bentonite panels seal occurs after backfilling and once water is in contact.

So what could go wrong?

Luckily we are excited to have Drizoro Maxseal SUPER – a Cementitious Waterproofing Coating which outperforms Bentonite so if you are using Bentonite please have a close look to see how Drizoro Maxseal SUPER compares. Drizoro Maxseal SUPER will give a more certain seal ie. a better result and be much easier and more cost-effective.