The Need for Waterproofing
Waterproofing is vital in the home to stop water
and moisture from entering the structural areas
of the home and causing damage. Common wet areas
in the home include the bathroom, laundry and
kitchen. However, balconies, roofs, walls, basements
and garages are all susceptible to water and also
need to be waterproofed. Water may also cause
damage in areas that are poorly ventilated so,
where possible, ventilation needs to be improved.
If not possible, then a waterproofing system should
be applied.
Damage caused by incorrectly waterproofed areas
includes:
structural damage such as rotting timbers
rising damp
mildew, mould and fungi
peeling paint
corrosion of metal structures e.g. pipes
What Waterproofers DoProfessionals will generally apply a membrane
to the area to be waterproofed. There are many
different membranes available and the professional
will use the one that is deemed most suitable
for the area. Roofing membranes will generally
be different to bathroom membranes for example.
There are also systems available to waterproof
above tile, taking away the need to remove tiles
– which can be time consuming and costly.
Professionals will also repair cracks and remove
mould. They will also come to your house and advise
you of areas of concern and the best way to waterproof
those areas.
Hiring a Professional Waterproofing should only be carried out by a
professional as the treatment needs to be applied
with no gaps whatsoever – even the smallest
gap can pose a problem in the future. Any work
carried out needs to comply with council regulations,
and your professional should be able to help you
find out what these are. All work should come
with a guarantee. Before hiring any professional,
ensure that you get three quotes and that the
professional that you choose is correctly qualified. |
