It’s always a good reminder that waterproofing, particularly for horizontal surfaces, is important when living in a tropical country like ours.
There was a time that a part of my family home suffered from leaks. Our house is a two-story home. When it would rain, the ceiling and walls of our dining room would be wet from the water that leaked from the second floor. Apparently, it came from water that seeped through a small crevice that had appeared on our terrace. Who knew that something so miniscule as a crack could lead to a frustrating home problem?
Why Horizontal Waterproofing Matters
While our home’s leakage problem has been sealed and fixed since then, it does teach a lesson not to skimp on important treatments when constructing one’s home. In our case, our terrace did not have sufficient waterproofing, making that part of our home susceptible to leaks. Because our terrace was also tiled over, it was even more challenging to apply the necessary intervention of waterproofing the surface.
Experts recommend waterproofing areas of the home that come in direct contact with water. By applying positive-side waterproofing, or by preventing water seepage in the first place, leaks become less of a concern.
Especially during rainy weather, waterproofing ensures exposed horizontal surfaces can withstand downpours and storms. Leaks are common problems faced by homeowners with roof decks. Be sure to apply necessary positive-side waterproofing to avoid problems down the line.
Waterproofing is also important on concrete canopies, verandas, and terraces. These architectural features have a protective quality, acting as shade from the sun or protection from rain. While keeping you dry, not being reinforced with waterproofing could make it easy for water to seep through.
Indoors, you also want to eliminate water seepage on your bathroom floors. Lots of splashing occurs in your shower area, and you also wouldn’t want it to be a source of leakage, especially if the bathroom is on the second floor.
For waterproofing these concrete surfaces, be sure to use Boysen Plexibond. It is a liquid product that create a cementitious waterproofing system. Mixed with cement, the resulting formulation is applied on bare concrete to create a water-resistant layer.
Using Boysen Plexibond for Horizontal Waterproofing
Boysen Plexibond is a preventive solution for leaks from surfaces that come in contact with water. If you are treating leaks, you have to identify the source of water seepage and carry out repairs first like sealing cracks. You can’t DIY major cracks and leaks, so call the professionals to fix significant problems.
Once that has been resolved, you can proceed to use Boysen Plexibond to waterproof horizontal surfaces. Here is a brief step-by-step procedure:
Step 1: Clean the surface. Ensure it is free from oil, dust, dirt, and any loose grit or mortar.
Step 2: In intervals, slowly mix cement to Boysen Plexibond. The ratio is 6.5 to 7.5 kg of cement for every 4 liters of Plexibond. For easier mixing, use a power mixer to prevent clumping.
Step 3: Dampen the area you are working on. Applying on a damp surface avoids the Plexibond mixture from drying too fast, preventing it from cracking easily.
Step 4: Using a brush, apply 3 to 5 coats of the Plexibond mixture. Wait 1 to 2 hours after each coat. While working, continue to stir the mixture to avoid settling.
While the second coat is still wet, you can apply fiberglass matting on areas on your roof deck more prone to cracking like joints and corners. Make sure the matting is dry before you apply the next coat.
Step 5: Once all the coats have been applied, wait for 1 day to let it dry. Afterwards, apply one coat of Plexibond not mixed with anything. This is called the bond coat.
Step 6: While the bond coat is still wet and sticky, place the concrete or mortar topping.
After these steps are done, you can then proceed to install tiles or paint using Boysen Acqua Epoxy.
Waterproof Horizontal Surfaces for a More Secure Home
Worry less about leakage problems. Horizontal waterproofing is a necessary reinforcement for a dry and more secure home.
Your firewall also needs attention. Need information on that? Check out this article. Subscribe to the blog for more home improvement tips.
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