Waterproofing and damp proofing

Water finds the detail, not the field. Most waterproofing failures happen at a joint, a penetration or a termination — which is where the specification should concentrate.

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A waterproofing system is only as good as its worst detail. Large areas of membrane rarely leak; upstands, pipe penetrations, construction joints, pile heads and expansion joints do. A credible specification spends most of its attention there.

Systems

Sheet membranes

SBS and APP modified bitumen sheet, torch or self-adhesive applied, in single or multi-layer build. Reliable, well understood, and forgiving of a less than perfect substrate — at the cost of difficult detailing around complex geometry.

Liquid-applied membranes

Polyurethane, polyurea and modified cementitious systems applied seamlessly. Hot-spray polyurea cures in seconds and builds substantial thickness in one pass, which suits large podium and tank decks. Liquid systems detail far more easily around penetrations than sheet.

Crystalline and cementitious

Reactive systems that form crystals within the concrete pore structure, waterproofing the substrate itself rather than coating it. Used for pile heads, water-retaining structures and below-grade concrete where a surface membrane cannot be maintained.

Injection

Polyurethane and acrylic resin injection to stop active leaks, curtain injection behind a structure where the positive side is inaccessible, and re-injectable hose systems cast into construction joints for future intervention.

Details that decide the outcome

PVC and hydrophilic waterstops at construction joints
Swellable bars and sealants at cold joints
Pile head treatment using crystalline and epoxy systems
Expansion joint treatment and sealing
Pipe and service penetration collars
Upstand terminations and counterflashing
Protection board and drainage layers before backfill

Where it applies

Basements, podiums and below-grade structures
Roofs, terraces and planter areas
Water-retaining structures, tanks and containment
Wet areas, plant rooms and commercial kitchens
Bridge and deck waterproofing

Flood testing: horizontal areas should be flood tested before any covering is laid. It is the only point at which a defect can still be found cheaply.

Standards we work to

EN 1504-2
EN 13967
EN 14891
ASTM C1127
ASTM D7832
BS 8102

Common questions

What clients ask before awarding

Sheet or liquid membrane?

Sheet membranes suit large, simple areas and tolerate an imperfect substrate. Liquid-applied systems are seamless and detail far more easily around penetrations and complex geometry. The geometry usually decides it.

Can you stop an active leak in an occupied basement?

Yes, by resin injection. Polyurethane resins react with water and expand to seal the path, and curtain injection can place a barrier behind the structure where the positive side cannot be reached.

Why do waterproofing systems fail at the same places?

Because joints, penetrations, pile heads and terminations are where continuity is interrupted. The field of a membrane rarely fails. A specification that treats details as an afterthought has already decided where the leak will be.

Is flood testing necessary?

On horizontal areas, yes. It is the last moment a defect can be found before finishes, screeds or backfill make access expensive.

Send us the drawings. We will tell you what it takes.

BOQ, isometrics, specifications or a full tender package. Acknowledged within one working day, with the machine schedule and programme in the offer.

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