Waterproofing is an important part of building construction, and there are different types of waterproof compounds are found for varied types of waterproofing. In the market you can find wide variety of urethanes, modified asphalts, clay and rubber-based products. These compounds are used by waterproofing contractors in Melbourne for various commercial as well as personal housing constructions. One of the popular types of foundation in commercial establishments is concrete masonry unit or simply say concrete block. These blocks are vulnerable to seepage and demand repair frequently, therefore, it is of utmost necessary to create a proper waterproofing solution to resist any kind of seepage.
Waterproofing materials are able to resist a hydrostatic head when water builds up against the concrete foundation. There is a huge pressure created and therefore, strong waterproofing compounds have been used to resist the pressure.
There are certain rules or guidelines for commercial waterproofing Melbourne to avoid shrinkage cracks in concrete or leaks at joints.
• It is always recommended to put the waterproofing compounds directly on the concrete foundation.
• It is not recommended to put insulated materials between two waterproofing membranes. This can create entrapment issue.
• Granular materials are best recommended for backfill with more than percent proctor density.
• Maintenance is important, so inspect the flashings and seal it wherever possible.
• Check the surface temperature of concrete before the product is specified. Some of the common problems are adhesion, solvent evaporation, curing and temperature.
History of concrete blocks
Before understanding the waterproofing Melbourne, it is important to be aware of the brief history of concrete blocks. Concrete blocks were rapidly being used to build homes in ’s because it was easy to store and transport than conventional stone and brick. They were promoted as a fireproof and weatherproof material and being used in both above and below foundation construction.
Sand and gravel were abundant and those raw materials were used to fabricate concrete blocks. Many people called it cinder block but cinder blocks were lighter and manufactured using burned coal instead of sand or gravel.
Concrete blocks were prevalently used to build houses and available in inch X 8 inch X 8 inch units. Each block weighed about pounds and held together by mortar. There were many incidents of water leakage in the early times but generally there weren’t so many waterproofing compounds available. With time soil and water created extreme pressure against the foundation resulted in breaking the mortar. Over the time water seepage through exterior mortar joints was prevalent because of entrapment of water inside the block.
Concrete block waterproofing solutions
Exterior waterproofing
Most of the solutions are done from the exterior of the wall. It is an expensive proposition because it requires complete digging to the base of foundation wall. Once the digging is done, a waterproof membrane is applied and drain tile is installed to arrange additional water.
Interior waterproofing
There is another non-conventional way to stop the leakage by directing the water into a drainage system below the floor. The process is called Interior Drain Tile. In this process into the bottom row of blocks holes are drilled so that to drain water through those holes.
Author’s Bio - Steve Burns is a professional waterproofing contractor, working for commercial waterproofing in Melbourne for last years. He has established his business in the city, giving compressive solution to both interior and exterior waterproofing. He is known for its consistency and earned a good reputation among waterproofing contractors Melbourne.
Address: Melbourne, VIC
Web: http://waterproofing.melbourne/