Edition 2 – Other Causes of Waterproofing Failure

The Australian Institute of Waterproofing (AIW) of which Wet-seal is a member has written an article that appeared in the State based Master Builder magazines, the article was titled “Waterproofing – Common Causes of Failure”.

Our last news article covered the Top 3 causes of waterproofing failure:

1. Poor workmanship and surface preparation.
2. The failure to prime the respective parts and surfaces before the application of the waterproofing membrane.
3. Residual moisture in the substrate causing adhesive failure or de-bonding of the membrane.

This news article informs you of some of the other common causes of waterproofing failure.

• Film Thickness – incorrect film thickness of the cured waterproofing in the case of liquid applied membranes.  A common problem is the waterproofing has not been applied in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications (e.g. specified number of coats & specified minimum dry film thickness, time required between coats).
• Product Knowledge – a common failure in waterproofing is the lack of knowledge of the products’ limitations and correct usage.
  • There is no “one can” solution for waterproofing, the product that works well in one situation may fail completely in a different usage.
  • Incompatibility of materials is a widespread problem in the industry which can and does cause failure of the waterproofing.  Multiple products from different manufacturers are not recommended due to the issue of incompatibility.
  • Knowledge of the waterproofing products’ performance characteristics, is a critical part of the serviceability of the waterproofing membrane.
• Protection of the Membrane – where other Trades are required to work over a waterproofing membrane, temporary protection should always be installed.
  • In the case of Tilers installing tiles by “direct stick”, working on the membrane is inevitable.  However, the membrane characteristics for shore hardness should be considered to prevent damage.
• Effective Curing – an often ignored problem is the required time for effective curing of liquid applied waterproofing products.  In many instances the waterproofing is installed one day and the next day screeds and tiles are installed over partially cured membranes.
  • Drying and cure times for liquid applied waterproofing membranes are dependent on ambient relative humidity, ambient temperature, porosity of substrates, air flow and substrate temperature.
  • Most membrane manufacturers specify minimum cure times.  These average from 24 to 72 hours.  Note: Wet-seal’s membrane cure time requirement is to allow an adequate drying time of 48 hours at 25 ⁰C and 50% relative humidity.
  • With solvent based and liquid applied membranes, incomplete curing will adversely affect the polymeric properties of the material causing failure.
  • Good building practices require due process and appropriate times for drying and curing of waterproofing, the same as any other material.
  • A Builder would not have the painter paint wet plaster, so why install tiles on uncured waterproofing membranes?

A copy of the full article published in Master Builder magazine is available upon request.  To receive a copy of the article, please click on Request More Information and we will email you a copy.

For any other advice of a technical nature, Wet-seal’s highly experienced technical expert, Robert Rath, will be happy to take your call.  Robert can be contacted on 0413 008 303 or via email rrath@wet-seal.ws

Alternatively, please speak with your local Franchisee directly.  Details of how to contact your local Franchisee can be found at Find A Franchisee