Published by Hemant Chauhan in Waterproofing.
75% of the buildings constructed in India suffer from some kind of waterproofing problem.
We must understand the moisture is the most difficult element to stop when it comes to buildings. Even a 10 meters thick concrete wall cannot stop that slow trickle of water from showing itself in the concrete if the concrete is not waterproofed properly.
By nature concrete & common masonry items love water.
75% of the building constructed in India suffer from some kind of waterproofing failure.
India is a land of all season. High temperature differences causes waterproofing issues even in dry states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Nagpur & such areas.
Moisture in your building will create problems such as
- Destruction of interior elements such as wood work, paint & finishes.
Illustration 1: Paint Damage from Waterproofing Failure in Bathroom or Kitchen Sunk Area
Illustration 2: Leakage from Bathroom on Floor above
- Bring in presence of mould, fungus & bacteria in your living environment. It may cause activation of allergen including skin & asthma or aggravate such health issues
Illustration 3: Heavy Damage due to failed waterproofing
Illustration 4: Allergies from Mold due to Moisture
3. Start cancer in your structure i.e. make reinforcement weaker by effects of rusting & oxidation leading to carbonation problem.
Illustration 5: Reinforcement Breaking Concrete Cover due to Carbonation
Illustration 6: Damaged structure due to carbonation problem.
Causes of Dampness in your building structure if you live in India
Main causes of water entry in Structures
- Rains
- Underground Water / High Water Table
- Plumbing Failures
- Moisture in the air, near coastal areas or heavy rainfall areas
Rains
Directly impact the terrace & final ceilings. While quick showers may not impact the terrace waterproofing with adequate slope that much, but slow consistent rainfall enables water to penetrate even with well sloped terraces and flat roofs.
For vertical surface in case the masonry is left uncovered by plastering or facade material, it allows moisture to come in from the walls also. Stone cladding with absorbent stones & improperly filled joints cause problems in walls specially in north India where use of stone for cladding is common.
Underground Water / High Water Table
When masonry starts absorbing ground moisture due to capillary action it causes white patches, failure of paint & finishes and mold growth on the walls. Chemical Damp Proofing Course is the option to treat such problem. It can be by injection or specially polymers to be added to masonry as the time of construction.
Plumbing Failures
Areas such as sunken parts of kitchen, bathrooms, balconies which collect water due to failed due to failed plumbing cause damage to areas outside bathrooms & such places. Bathroom waterproofing is hence to be done technically so that it does not fail. Bathroom waterproofing failure is extremely expensive to repairs & impossible to do if you have a non-cooperative neighbor.
Moisture in the air, near coastal areas or heavy rainfall areas
Locations such as Mumbai, Assam, Udupi, Kerala or all areas with heavy moisture content in the air are absorbed by most masonry material such as mortar, concrete, wood, etc. These areas need special understanding on what kind of material are to be used even for waterproofing, as some of waterproofing coatings are sensitive to moisture & may not work in presence of high moisture in the climate.