Insulating coatings in construction and during repair work are given special attention. Even if the main material of the construction has high technical and operational indicators in the form of strength and durability, the lack of protective equipment from adverse climatic factors will not allow them to properly perform their functions. This also applies to temperature and humidity, as well as sound insulation. In this case, one of the most common materials of this kind is considered - waterproofing. This is an extensive group of insulating coatings, the tasks of which, however, go far beyond merely protecting against water and moisture.
Purpose of waterproofing materials
Contact with water, as well as increased humidity coefficient, adversely affect many materials. To prevent interactions of this kind, insulators are used, which exclude the penetration of water and moisture. This problem is solved in various ways. Hydroisolators differ in structural performance, functionality, efficiency, sizes, shapes, etc. For modern materials, which are membranes, the principle of combating moisture is different. Such an insulator not only creates a barrier by storing water, but absorbs it and removes it through appropriate channels. The simplest means of such protection include minimizing the ingress of water. In particular, it can be soil waterproofing. With your own hands it can be formed on the garden plot, laying out several layers of gravel and sand. Conversely, there are insulators that should completely block the access of not only moisture, but also steam. These are materials that provide maximum tightness in pools, in areas of operation of critical equipment, etc. That is, the material is used not only in construction, but also in technological production processes.
Special waterproofing properties
The basic operational quality of waterproofing is hygroscopicity. This is the ability to maintain its structure and technical qualities in close contact with water. Hygroscopicity refers to the resistance of the insulation itself, but there is also a whole group of properties that determine how specific a material will be effective precisely as a protective barrier. To evaluate such characteristics, specialists use such properties as water retention, water absorption, moisture absorption, etc. As for water retention, in fact, this is the degree of sealing that a concrete waterproofing can provide. This property determines, for example, whether the coating can prevent the passage of water under the roof during a shower. Moreover, the nuances of third-party exposure can also be taken into account when water accumulates at the location of the insulation coating. The pressure rises and tightness may decrease under it. Moisture and water absorption is a group of more modern qualities that are appropriate to evaluate with membrane-type insulators. Such materials can absorb certain volumes of water and hold until it evaporates.
Forms of waterproofing
On the market, the material is offered in the form of panels, films, granular fractions and liquid compositions. The most common format is the panel. It is a sheet material characterized by simple installation and relatively high efficiency. Usually, with its help, the main protection of the roof, facade walls and ceilings is realized. The film is more flexible in application, does not take up much space and is universal in terms of installation locations. But most often, film insulators are equipped with roofs, protecting the thermal insulation from getting wet. Bulk waterproofing is sometimes used as a filter material. This is the same sand and gravel, in some cases supplemented by a film sheath. Recently, liquid mixtures have also been popularized. How to make waterproofing based on such a material? It is usually supplied in special spray cans. Application is carried out using guns that feed the solution through a nozzle. Then the applied mixture hardens like a sealant. This isolation method is applied pointwise in the processing of hard-to-reach areas. For example, if you need to repair deep seams in the same roof.
Classification of materials by place of application
In construction, this separation highlights external and internal barriers. The greatest percentage of moisture penetrates into the house from the outside. The most common sources are rainfall and groundwater. Accordingly, quality external insulation must be ensured. In this part of the protection, polymer-bitumen canvases are more often used, which make it possible to completely close problem areas. With the help of burners, the insulator is soldered with a sealed cover of the joints. Potentially hazardous areas include roofing, windows, basements and a basement. Internal waterproofing is a means of protection aimed at combating condensate, leaks in plumbing utilities, water sprays in the domestic use of taps, etc. In this case, we are talking about protecting facing materials indoors. It is possible to provide this type of waterproofing with the help of a liquid coating or from the very beginning purchase finishing materials that have a high coefficient of water resistance.
Classification by application method
In accordance with this classification, mounting, gluing, filling, painting and casting insulators are distinguished. Mounting materials include panel sheet materials, which are fastened with hardware - screws, nails, staples, etc. This method is considered one of the most reliable, but it requires additional sealing, since mechanical fixing in this regard is ineffective. One of the easiest to install is gluing waterproofing, for the installation of which sometimes it is enough to remove the back protective film and lay the material. Usually these are roll coatings, for fixing which special adhesive solutions with a water-repellent effect are also used. Bulk materials also do not cause problems in laying - they are enough to correctly form and compact them. Paint insulation protects specific parts and structures on which it is applied. These are protective paints and varnishes, most often used in the processing of wood and metal. As for cast waterproofing, it is represented by a group of fusible or liquid materials, which are laid on the target area under high temperature and freeze over time.
Special types of waterproofing
This category of waterproofing includes industrial materials. For example, there is an insulating impregnation, which can be processed in the factory the same wood. The composition of the impregnation contains active chemical elements, plasticizers and modifiers that improve the insulating properties of the material structure itself. Special equipment also includes sprayed polymer waterproofing, consisting of a basic synthetic component and a curing catalyst. By spraying such an insulator, metal surfaces of the equipment, individual parts and structures are protected.
Combined waterproofing
This type of insulation is considered the most effective and technological in the domestic segment of hydrological protection. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the multi-level structure of the coating with several layers of the membrane provides protection not only from water and moisture, but also from steam. This may be the optimal waterproofing of the bathroom under the tile, since it will protect the room from condensation. Along with this, the tiled cladding will be protected. Some models of multifunctional insulators of this type also provide insulation and noise reduction effects, which guarantees acoustic comfort.
Insulation technology
The list of operations for the waterproofing device involves the preparation of the base, fixing or applying the target material, as well as additional work on sealing joints. In some cases, the coating is additionally protected from mechanical damage, although combined coatings often provide metallic coatings for such functions. Before starting work, it is important to calculate how much waterproofing will be used. The consumption in the use of panel sheets is determined, for example, by the coating area and is estimated from the calculation of 8-10 mm by the thickness of the barrier. Typically, a room of 30 m 2 takes up to 10-15 m of roll material. The flow rate of bulk mixtures depends on the conditions of use and the characteristics of the fraction. The same applies to individual structures subjected to coating with paints and varnishes.
Foundation waterproofing
Like roofing, this part of the house is one of the most problematic in terms of the passage of moisture and water. Therefore, even at the construction stage, the foundation is protected. This is done with the help of roll bitumen coatings, and with mastic resins, which isolate concrete slabs and joints of individual structural elements. Also, the waterproofing of the foundation screed is strengthened with sealants and reinforcing meshes, which exclude mechanical breakage of the canvas structure. Moreover, isolation from water can be performed together with thermal insulation, due to which a multifunctional protective cake is formed.
How to choose a waterproofing material?
The choice is made on the basis of protection requirements, design conditions for installation and financial capabilities. The most accessible will be film or roll material, which can protect the inner surfaces of the roof, the same foundation and individual parts of the facade. Universal, but at the same time expensive membrane material will also provide heat and vapor barrier. It will make optimal basement waterproofing from groundwater, which will also protect the lower floors from freezing in the winter.
How to waterproof yourself?
You can completely dispense with factory supplies only if the site is insulated from excessive saturation with groundwater. So the method already described is performed with a layer-by-layer filling of crushed stone and sand filling. A more effective option for how to make waterproofing without specialized and expensive materials involves the use of conventional polyethylene oilcloths and, even better, polyvinyl chloride. Such coatings with high-quality installation and protection can last a long time, and in combination with a heat insulator will also protect the surrounding area from condensation.
New technologies in the waterproofing segment
One of the main problems of all modern insulators is the incompatibility of the target protection material and the characteristics of the hydroprotection shell. To eliminate this incompatibility, technologists offer concepts for the maximum integration of sealing materials in the structure of structures. In particular, a method called the “white bathtub” is based on this principle - functional structural waterproofing. This solution is mainly used in the protection of underground utilities, which initially focus on the opposition of water and moisture. In particular, waterproof concrete, control and injection elements, water-swelling pipes, etc. are used.
Conclusion
Without proper enclosure of materials and structures from moisture and water, we can expect their gradual destruction and loss of primary performance. There is a fairly narrow group of building materials that, even with prolonged contact with water, do not deform. But the use of hydraulic protection does not always guarantee the intended result. To date, the best waterproofing is presented in a series of polymer and membrane coatings. They are characterized not only by optimum moisture resistance qualities, but also by additional protective qualities. Depending on the modification, they are resistant to mechanical stress, do not contribute to the spread of fire, and even support building structures in the form of a damping effect.