For guests, the rains are a time of refreshment and romance, and the outdoors are decked in various hues of green. Everywhere you see gurgling streams and lush vegetation and don’t forget those gorgeous sun-filled days in between heavy rains.
Having said that, while guests will definitely love the rain, it could spell disaster for your holiday home, if there is no waterproofing of the property. Waterproofing is as important as reinforcing rods are to a building, and maintenance plays a crucial role in protecting your property.
Why waterproofing is important:
For holiday home owners waterproofing their property becomes even more important because they will not be there daily to notice cracks that might develop. What a shock for an owner to visit his home after a couple of months and see algae growing in the interiors!
Most builders ignore waterproofing because it is costly. So the onus is on the owner to ensure that waterproofing is done from the plinth-beam level, two feet above the ground, by thickly sandwiching the waterproofing mixture.
Even if the waterproofing of your house is not done property, you would have no problems in the first two years. After the third or fourth year, water would start seeping in through the cracks on the wall that could be hard to trace. Cracks could also be caused when the coat of waterproof material is not uniformly applied. Even cracks as thin as 0.1mm could prove disastrous. Electrical conduits and holes made for ACs are major culprits.
Areas to waterproof:
Terraces, plinths and basements are critical areas that require waterproofing. Water-repellant chemicals coated on the terrace will protect your home through all seasons. While they reflect UV rays and act as heat insulators during summer, they prevent water from seeping into your house during the rains. In most cases, the good old red-clay tiles are among the better options to seal water instead of modern chemicals and methods.
Waterproofing Methods:
The most efficient waterproofing method would be to inject cement slurry – formed by mixing Portland cement, water and additives – by applying great pressure into the cracks. The cracks have to be neatly plastered after the process.
Another cause for concern could be organic growth on your inner walls. During the rains, the temperature inside your house is higher than the external temperature. Fungi grow freely on the walls enjoying the warmth. Green algae also takes advantage of the moisture. Algae also grows in cracks where there are water seepages. Finding the source of cracks and sealing them is important. Timely remedy would increase the life of, not only the plaster on the wall, but also, of the entire building.
But if at a later stage you come to know the water-proofing of your home has not been done properly, don’t panic. Waterproofing compounds (available in powder or liquid for) serve the same purpose and provide equivalent results. Most brands recommend a ratio of 1kg powder or 1 litre liquid waterproofing compound with 1 (50kg) bag of cement. However the home-owner must keep in mind that the composition may differ from brand to brand. So it’s best to read the product information carefully before purchasing and applying.
Care during home renovations:
Due care has to be taken while renovating your house. Cracks can happen when the new foundation settles on the old one. For home-owners it is normally difficult to even know that there are settlement cracks in the building. Though they do not have major implications, they should be sealed in time to avoid future damages.
Precautions:
- Note the date of manufacture. Avoid picking up an old product.
- Inspect the condition of the packaging. For instance, bags containing waterproofing powder may have small holes, which can expose the chemical to atmospheric moisture and thus reduce its potency.
- Always mix waterproofing powder with cement-sand-mixture thoroughly in a dry state before adding water. This will ensure uniformity of the concoction.
- Similarly, mix the waterproofing liquid evenly with the pre-defined quantity of water before adding the same into the cement-sand mixture.
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