Waterproofing & fire · Service line 08
Waterproofing and Damp Proofing
In brief
Waterproofing is the work of forming a continuous barrier that stops water entering the structure at foundations, retaining walls, roof terraces, roofs and wet areas. The method is chosen according to whether the water is under pressure: bituminous membrane or a crystalline system where it is, a two-component liquid-applied membrane on surfaces where it is not. The critical point is the details — joints, corners and service penetrations.
In waterproofing, the great majority of failures come not from the surface but from the details. Square metres of membrane are laid flawlessly — and the water gets in around a service penetration, at a corner return, or at a lap. That is why we plan the work starting from the details.
Being an authorised Sika dealer makes a practical difference here: we both sell the system and install it. It is in our own interest to specify the right system from the outset, because there is nobody else to pass the cost of a wrong product choice on to.
Applications and choosing the system
The waterproofing decision follows from where the water comes from and at what pressure:
- Foundations and retaining walls (below ground) — bituminous membrane, HDPE sheet or a cementitious crystalline system against water under pressure.
- Roof terraces and roofs — two layers of bituminous membrane or a liquid polyurethane, with thermal insulation and a protective screed above.
- Car parks and trafficked surfaces — polyurethane or polyurea coatings that carry traffic loads.
- Wet areas — two-component liquid-applied membrane and joint tape in bathrooms, kitchens and balconies.
- Water tanks and pools — coatings certified as safe for contact with drinking water.
- Remedial work — water cut-off by injection and negative-side waterproofing in existing buildings.
Details: where the job is really decided
The same points appear on our checklist every time:
- Fillet tape or mortar fillets at internal and external corners
- Sleeves and reinforcing strips at service penetrations
- Minimum lap width and full heat welding at membrane laps
- A tape system at movement joints that accommodates the movement
- A drip detail at parapets and wall returns
- A 24–48 hour flood test after installation
What the scope covers
- Foundation and retaining wall waterproofing
- Roof terrace, roof and car park membranes
- Wet area and swimming pool waterproofing
- Detail design and flood testing
Projects from this service line
Samsun Piazza Shopping Centre Waterproofing
Waterproofing carried out with the centre open — every service pipe piercing the slab was sealed, one penetration at a time.
Samsun Piazza MV Switchroom Cable Penetration Waterproofing
Cable penetrations letting water into an electrical room: excavation from outside, repair of the wall face, sealing the penetrations and drained backfill.
Samsun Soho Residences Car Park Floor
A power-floated floor and line marking in a covered car park — a trowelled surface, directional arrows and numbered bays.
Frequently asked questions
Are waterproofing and thermal insulation the same thing?
No. Waterproofing stops water entering the structure; thermal insulation stops heat escaping from it. The two are usually applied one over the other: on a roof terrace the waterproofing goes down first, with thermal insulation and a protective layer above. If the order is wrong, condensation causes both to fail.
Can an existing building be waterproofed from the inside?
In places where excavation is impossible, such as basements, negative-side (internal) waterproofing is possible, using cementitious crystalline systems and injection methods. But because water pressure pushes against a layer applied from the inside, positive-side (external) waterproofing is always more durable where it can be done.
How long does roof terrace waterproofing take, and do you give a guarantee?
A medium-sized terrace is completed in 3–7 working days in suitable weather. On completion the system manufacturer’s material warranty is given together with our own workmanship guarantee, and the flood test result and a photographic installation file are handed over.
Quote
Get a price for Waterproofing and Damp Proofing
Share the dimensions and the current condition and we will price it item by item. In Samsun and the surrounding provinces we come out for the survey ourselves.
Çobanözü Mah. Toybelen Küçük Sanayi Sitesi, Atakum / Samsun