Building a house from scratch is one of the most exciting things in the world and only those with a ton of money and the nerves of steel will manage to get through this process with success. With about a million things to take into close consideration, construction is harder than most people think and you must be concentrated at all times if you want to avoid mistakes. One of the things to look after is how to save as much money as possible, but don’t forget about the energy and sustainability as well. Protecting your house against external damages and weather conditions is important, which is why waterproofing is one of the essential techniques to explore. Here you'll learn why it’s so vital and find out about three techniques you should pay attention to.
Prevention and protection
Two most important factors of a peaceful life are prevention and protection and you’re the one who has to make sure your house is always safe from anything that might harm it. Although most people think that rain isn’t an important factor in dry regions, that only see a handful of rains yearly, this isn’t quite true because even the smallest rain can still damage your house. Ultimately, a faulty roof is a problem no matter how often it leaks and you only have to wait a while before it starts causing huge damage to your house – from moisture and humidity to mildew and mold. And this is just one of the problems that come with a leaky roof, but it can seriously jeopardize your health, and that’s something nobody wants. So, what are some of the waterproofing techniques that can save your house?
Waterstops
This is one of the basic things in construction, but it can help you quite a lot because people generally forget that water can penetrate through concrete joints as well and still damage your roofs, walls and foundation. That’s why you should install plastic waterstops that elevate the level of your protection in an instant. They’re affordable, easy to install and durable, so look into them as soon as possible – definitely before the rains start!
Bunding
This isn’t a waterproofing method per se, but if your walls are the biggest problem and not your roof, consider bunding – an effective technique that traps liquid inside the walls and prevents it from entering your living space. Bunding works well on all types of buildings, no matter how small or big they are, and it’s especially efficient when you’re looking for a way to ensure maximum spill containment – if you install it properly, you definitely won’t find any liquids inside your home.
Membranes
This is a more serious technique that’s cheap, easy to handle and maintain as well, but it’s also one of the most popular ones out there because of the protection it provides your home. Membranes are basically placed on top of the problematic surface – most often the roof, especially if you’ve opted for a flat one while building your house – and they ensure it’s always dry and safe. Equipped with several layers of protective materials and fillers, these membranes don’t allow water to penetrate through and are thus quite efficient against leakages. No matter which type of waterproofing membranes you go with – sheet-based, cementitious and liquid are the most popular choices on the market – you’ll certainly be satisfied with the results and won’t have to worry about mildew in your home ever again.
Other techniques
Some of the other waterproofing methods you should consider are basement waterproofing, insulation and bituminous coating – all of these will protect your home against water damage and help you save a ton of energy month after month.
Written by Carolin Petterson
About the Author
Carolin Petterson is a Business Lady and contributor for number of high-class websites. She loves to share her experiences and talk about practical solutions, but her specialties are sustainability, sustainable business and green living.
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