Modern Water Proofing Method and Techniques

Abstract

Inspite of many fold advancements made in Concrete Technology and the ability to produce high quality concrete, it is not possible to really make waterproof structures. The problem of water proofing of roofs, walls, bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, basements, swimming pools, and water tanks etc. have not been much reduced. Waterproofing has thus remained as an unsolved complex problem. Water in many ways can make a building weaker structurally as well as apparently thus permeable concrete results in reduced service life of the structure. Spalling of paint due to water seepage increases the maintenance cost of the structure. Water seepage results in damp and unhygienic interior which promotes the growth of microorganisms. Impermeability of concrete, apart from its direct bearing on water tightness, is also important for its influence on durability. Concrete is not the only material vulnerable to physical and chemical processes of deterioration associated with water. Water is the primary agent of both creation and destruction of many natural materials. It happens to be central to most durability problems in concrete. Water is generally involved in every form of deterioration and, with porous solids the ease of penetration of water into the solid usually determines its rate of deterioration (whether effect is confined to the surface of material, or the interior of material is also effected). With water tightness the concrete can be made to resist corrosion of steel, freeze thaw, sulphate attack, alkali aggregate reaction, carbonation, efflorescence etc. 9 More than 95% of the building roof slabs in our country are made with conventional 1:2:4 mix concrete, in which there is no concept of using a measured quantity of water. The workers at site in order to reduce compacting efforts, have the tendency to add more water than required, which results in porous hardened concrete. Waterproofing in many cases is only restricted to using of bitumen and that too of low quality on the roofs top. The (ultraviolet rays, deterioration) Poor structural design with inadequate provision for creep deformations make the roof slabs deflected downward letting rain water to pond and will ultimately seep through. The shrinkage cracks which will develop with the passage of time during the life span of the buildings will further add to the