We know that moisture in concrete is a problem when 85% of flooring failures are due to the presence of moisture in the concrete from hydro-static pressure or green concrete.
Moisture testing your concrete with a Moisture Meter is important but obviously waiting for the concrete to dry isn’t really an option due to the lengthy time this takes. Waterproofing agents need to be applied so that you can get on with the project and prevent future problems with moisture.
The waterproofing methods available fall into two main categories; topical membrane or internal penetrating membrane. Choosing the right one can have a big impact on how efficiently you get the project done and effectiveness in protecting against moisture problems in the future.
Topical Membrane …
This is the traditional way of waterproofing and was the only option up to approximately 15 years ago. A membrane is applied 28 days after the concrete has been poured. This is done in two coats with a 12-hour wait in-between each coat.
After the final coat, you need to wait until an additional 12 hours before you can lay any flooring. A further application of a Self Levelling Compound is also usually required, taking another 24 hours and adding further costs.
This makes this method labour intensive and time-consuming. Also, membranes can get damaged easily which can lead to moisture problems down the track. A simple pinhole in the membrane renders the waterproofing useless.
Internal Penetrating Membrane …
This method has now been around for approximately 15 years and is becoming the go-to method for Concrete Waterproofing.
This works by penetrating up to 100mm into the capillary voids of the concrete and creating a permanent waterproof barrier.
One of the key benefits of Densi Crete is that it can be applied at the time of pour and double as a curing compound. This saves a huge amount of time and money as you don’t need to apply any topical membrane or curing compound, it’s all done in a single application.
Instead of having to wait several months if you wait for the concrete to dry naturally to lay floor coverings, you can do it in just 14 days, guaranteed. For smaller projects, you can also use an internal penetrating moisture barrier, Moisture Proof, that is simply poured onto the concrete, broomed around for even coverage and left to penetrate. Moisture Proof can be applied to the concrete of any age.
Finally, due to the products being penetrating membranes they cannot be compromised once penetration has occurred. Trades can be back on the slab after just one hour with no compromise to the success of the product.
If you would like any technical advice or further information on any of our products then please contact Con-Treat today.
* The above information is to be used as a guide only and Con-Treat accepts no responsibility for any consequence resulting from the advice contained herein or verbally.
