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In most cases, the water accumulating in the bathroom on the upper floor or the rain-washed terrace is likely to be the source of the leak. If only the builders had taken the trouble to use water-proofing compounds during construction.

Broadly categorised as construction chemicals, joint sealants and waterproofing compounds are flexible jointing materials that act as a seal or fill a gap between two elements to accommodate future movement due to expansion. They have gained widespread acceptance among builders for use on concrete and masonry surfaces.

Several types of sealants and water-proofing compounds are available in the market today. While polysulphide sealants are recommended for structural expansion joints in most civil engineering structures, such as building superstructure, subways, basements, floors and reservoirs, fuel-resistant pitch polyurethane sealants are used to seal joints on concrete roads, runways, oil terminals, parking bays and cargo areas where fuel and oil spillage are common.

Heavy-duty epoxy urethane joint sealants are used to seal floor joints subject to heavy industrial use in factories and warehouses. Interior and exterior plaster cracks on walls and ceilings can be plugged with flexible acrylic sealant. General-purpose building sealants are suitable for sealing joints in concrete, brickwork, block work, perimeter sealing around doors and windows and floor joints. One part civil engineering sealants are recommended for sealing movement joints subjected to immersion in water.

Bituminous waterproof coatings are widely used to protect external surfaces and below ground structures, such as cellars, water tanks, reservoirs, basements and roof structures. Liquid elastomeric waterproofing membranes are favoured by engineers for application on foundations, basements, tunnels, ground floors, car decks, roof terraces, balconies, bridges and water-retaining structures, such as sewage works and inverted roofs.

The acrylic-modified cementitious coating for concrete and masonry surfaces is a seamless, flexible waterproof coating suitable for use in water tanks, sunken slab in toilet floors, sumps, roofs and basements. The most popular type of waterproofing compound, it is a two-component coating that is available in a pack comprising a liquid and a powder. The two components are mixed to a paste and applied on the concreted surface with a brush before plastering.

According to K. Saji Kumar, chief executive of Intdecor, a city- based firm marketing the Fosroc range of engineering products, waterproofing compounds and joint sealants are finding increasing use in the construction industry. “As shorter construction schedules become the norm, quality problems are more pronounced. Leakage is a common issue for houses, apartments and commercial buildings. Waterproofing compounds offer an economical alternative to expensive repairs. Awareness about waterproofing products and their ease of application appeals to builders”, he says.

Elastomeric polymer-modified cementitious waterproof coating is used to ensure water-tight surface for the roof, basement or water tanks of houses, especially those in coastal areas. Crystalline capillary waterproofing system are preferred for damp roofing, repairing cracks, plugging holes, sealing wall and floor joints and stopping active leaks. Another brush-applied compound is the elastomeric acrylic polymer-based solar reflective and insulating coating that offers thermal insulation for roof slabs and walls of buildings.

It can also be used on the interior walls and the roof of freezer rooms and cold storage facilities.

Waterproofing solutions for high- end applications include swellable water stops for integral sealing of construction joints, basements, retaining walls, pile caps and dams, gun-grade hydrophyllic adhesive for sealing around joints in pre-cast manhole covers, cable ducts and pipes and retaining walls and torch applied waterproof membrane for roof and floor slabs, basement tanks, concrete retaining structures, tunnels and subways.

HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) and PU (polyurethane) sheets offer heavy duty waterproofing for basements and concrete slabs sporting terrace lawns.

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