6 points to help you tackle the menace of water leakage
Jan 04, 2017 Home Improvement
Text: Priya Arya
Photographs: iStock
Photographs: iStock
All of us have faced the annoying issue of leakage one time or the other. Sometimes it’s from the terrace. Sometimes it’s the downstairs neighbour demanding you check your bathroom for cracks. Shailendra Pandav talks about the spaces that are usually susceptible to cracks and how to tackle seepage should the problem arise.
1. Areas that are usually involved in waterproofing:
- Terraces
- Basements
- Ground water tanks
- Overhead tanks
- Sink water proofing
- Terrace gardens
Waterproofing is internal and external, and employs chemicals such as Zycoceal and Polygel.
2. Waterproofing for terraces
- The condition of the surface is first checked before treatment.
- If cracks are noted, they are patched up first. The same is done for junctions of walls and wall/floor.
- A mixture of cement and waterproofing chemicals is spread all around. A smooth, rounded joint is created at the junctions of walls and wall/floor.
- Fibreglass cloth is then spread on this, which is topped with chemicals.
3. Waterproofing for bathrooms
- Waterproofing in the bathroom is of two types: walls and floor.
- The problem arises when tiles crack, and water collects on the sub-floor.
- In this case, you need to seal the joints between tiles with a chemical coating.
- It is advised to get waterproofing done (especially for bathrooms on upper storeys) before tiling from scratch or replacing old tiles.
4. Waterproofing for basements
- This involves injection grouting.
- Nozzles are embedded in the walls where cracks are seen.
- A slurry of cement and waterproofing chemicals is forced into the walls via the nozzles so that cracks/hollow portions get filled.
- External cracks are sealed with waterproofing chemicals.
- Compared to types of waterproofing, this method is costly.
(Waterproofing for ground tanks and overhead tanks is similar to that for terraces.)
5. Durability and maintenance
Once the waterproofing is done properly, it should last you for at least 5 years. In case this problem resurfaces, you can tackle that particular area with ‘localized’ treatment.
6. Time and cost
The time required for the entire process to be completed depends of the area that needs to be waterproofed. The cost is determined by surface area and labour required for the same.
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About the author
Shailendra Pandav
Water Proofing ExpertRelated Articles
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