MYK Laticrete's Waterproofing Membranes

Introduction

Water is the most important ingredient when the concrete is in fresh state and till it attains its complete strength. Aftermath if water enters or escapes from building elements, may have immediate or/and long- term undesired effects. Apart from damage to the buildings elements, structural damage is unavoidable if this problem is not addressed at early stages.

Definition

Waterproofing is the formation of an impervious barrier, which is designed to prevent water entering or escaping from various sections of building structures, yet allowing the vapor to travel through (Breathable).

Types of Waterproofing

There are various types of waterproofing available for making the structural elements water tight. They are:
  1. Chemical waterproofing
  2. Sheet waterproofing
  3. Liquid applied membrane waterproofing
Of the above types of water- proofing membranes, Liquid applied waterproofing membranes are considered to be the best due to their ease of application, accessibility and suitability to the substrates and performance along with breathability. In the Indian markets, they have the largest share and considered to be economical and acceptable.

Waterproofing Areas

Internal areas: bathrooms, kitchens, dining areas, shower recesses, laundries, plunge pools, swimming pools, sauna, and steam rooms.

External areas: terraces, roofs, podium slabs, balconies, retaining walls, Plunge pools, and swimming pools.

Waterproofing membranes are applied to various substrates such as: concrete, cement renders like screeds or plasters, cement backer boards, calcium silicate boards, gypsum boards, plywood, wood etc.

Importance of Waterproofing

The absence of waterproofing to the building elements may result in many damages like:
  • Corrosion of steel in RCC resulting in weakening of the structure
  • Cracking of cover concrete due to volume increase in reinforcing steel which may result in hazard to inmates
  • Swelling of dry wall boards resulting in de-bonding of ceramic/vitrified tiles
  • Electrical hazards causing the possible short circuit of lighting and power points
  • The blistering of paint and making the walls ugly and un-healthy
  • Health problems due to damp- ness, which may lead to respiratory problems

The Critical Performance Criteria of Waterproofing

Most important criteria a membrane should possess for durability are:
MYK Laticrete's Waterproofing Membranes
  • The membrane should be Impermeable.
  • Flexibility - membranes need to accommodate movements which occur during the service period of the structure.
  • The membrane must be durable without losing the flexibility over many years of service.
  • The membrane should be able to breath, i.e., ability to allow the moisture to escape as a vapour but not allowing the water molecules to pass through.
  • The membrane must be compatible with adhesives to ensure long-term adhesion where tiles are directly fixed over the membrane.
  • User-friendly, the membrane must be easy to apply, relatively lightweight, non hazardous, and environmentally safe.
  • It should provide a continuous film, seamless so as to not have any joints, which are weak points for seepage of water.
  • The membrane must be suitable to withstand environmental and climatic conditions.
  • The membrane's ability to adhere to a variety of substrates like PVC, GI, Steel, and Copper besides cement screeds/plaster and concrete, will give additional advantage as the joints of differential elements in water bodies are very critical in water- proofing the area.
  • The membrane should be elastomeric so as to enable the future cracks in the substrates like plaster, which are very common due to many reasons, to be accommodated or bridged and not allow the cracks to transfer to the finish surface. The ability is called the Crack bridging ability of the waterproofing membrane.
Despite satisfying the above criteria, the waterproofing membranes are as good as they are applied. Hence the applicator / waterproofing contractor plays a very key role in deciding the membrane's performance.
MYK Laticrete's Waterproofing Membranes MYK Laticrete's Waterproofing Membranes

The performance of water- proofing membrane starts from detailing all the trivial elements while designing, planning, and executing the membrane. It is important to design a complete system and be given to a single vendor so that performance of system lies with single source, ensuring the durability.

MYK Laticrete India, most innovative company in the field of tile and stone installation solutions, offers most advanced under-tile, crack-bridging, positive water proofing membranes as part of complete solutions for all wet areas, pools and water bodies. These membranes not only meet all the criteria given above but also have very low VOC content, making them most sought after in all Green Buildings.
JOGANI Reinforcement: Offering High Performance Engineering Fabric Products & Solutions
Jogani Impex is considered an industry leader in providing international grade Alkali Resistant ARACC Coated waterproofing mesh, which enhances the waterproofing systems and solutions in all types of buildings and structures, while saving money

Read more ...

Waterproofing Basements - Importance & Challenges
Assess Build Chem, a leading provider of construction chemicals, is ensuring long-term protection of buildings with its innovative waterproofing solutions that include a 5-step waterproofing method for deep and large basements. Sunny Surlaker, Head

Read more ...

Agrani: Setting Benchmarks for Quality & Reliability
By adhering to the highest industry standards, Agrani Group has gained a reputation for delivering solutions that surpass client expectations, avers Ramendra Bahadur Sinha, Managing Director. In the dynamic field of specialized construction that includes

Read more ...

FAIRMATE Introduces FAIRFLO CRYSTALLINE – a Crystalline Capillary Waterproofing Admixture for Concrete
FAIRMATE is catering to the Speciality Construction Chemical Industry by manufacturing a complete range of construction chemicals, along with cost-effective solutions and world-class services. The company has a long-standing expertise in the field

Read more ...

Nippon Paint expands into Rs. 12,500 cr Construction Chemicals market
In line with its global vision, Nippon Paint India is expanding its portfolio beyond the paint and coatings product range; it will now offer products and solutions under the broad categories: Dry mix, Repair and Maintenance, Construction Chemicals, and

Read more ...

Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete Structures and Preventive Measures
When the alkali of cement reacts with the reactive constituents of aggregates, the reaction is deleterious though very slow, and the distress is exhibited when the volume inside the concrete is increased due to the formation of alkali-silica gel, causing the

Read more ...

Optimizing Existing Structures Through Retrofitting
Despite understanding the potential of retrofitting and its distinct and far-reaching advantages in making existing buildings green and sustainable, retrofitting continues to be undertaken on a very limited scale; hence, it needs to be promoted and made mandatory

Read more ...

Cause of Distress of an Old Building Through Analytical and Micro-Analytical Methods
The technical service life of a reinforced concrete building is the time in service when structural safety is unacceptable due to either material degradation or exceeding the load carrying capacity, or both. In which case, the repair strategy may be adopted

Read more ...

Value Engineering with MCI®-2019 for Concrete Maintenance and Repair
True value engineering saves money without reducing service life or affecting the quality of construction or materials. Ideally, it adds value to the project. MCI®-2019 is one such value engineering solution that can extend the service life of existing

Read more ...

Agrani Milestone Use Carbon Fiber Laminates to Strengthen Slab
Ramendra Bahadur Sinha, Managing Director, Agrani Milestone, explains the remedial measures and challenges faced during slab strengthening of a deflected slab at IIT. NBCC India Limited undertook the strengthening of a deflected slab at a G+2 storey IIT building

Read more ...

Waterproofing Challenges & Remedial Measures in High Rise Buildings
High-rise buildings need special attention when it comes to waterproofing as the challenges inherent in them are peculiar in nature. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge on the remedies and products available in the market as water- proofers continue to

Read more ...

Importance of Waterproofing Structures
The longevity of structures depends on how much resistance the building element will offer to water ingress. Water leakage not only reduces the durability but also hampers the serviceability or usability of the structure; hence, a good waterproofing system will

Read more ...

Terrace Waterproofing Solutions for Energy-Efficient Buildings
Terrace waterproofing is particularly important and is considered a priority as the roof is always exposed to harsh climatic conditions and weather changes. Rajeev Gupta, Business Head, ECMAS Construction Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. An effective waterproofing solution

Read more ...

Structural Rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete Structures
Cement concrete is one of the most important construction materials and is practically basic to present-day developments. It is strong enough mechanically, yet vulnerable to deterioration. It thus gets damaged and even fails. This deterioration may be due to the weathering

Read more ...

Thermax - HDPE-SBS Waterproofing System for Basement Waterproofing
Gradual shift in lifestyle has driven the idea of modern construction towards developing underground spaces and buried structures to bring efficiency in use of space. However, the improved efficiency comes with an increase in challenges like infiltration

Read more ...

Waterproofing in Hilly Areas with Sub-Zero Temperatures
Industry experts Kunjan Popat, General Secretary, Waterproofing Association of India; Ramendra Bahadur Sinha, Managing Director, Agrani Enterprises, and MS Sudish, Director, SIWIN Institute of Waterproofing and Insulation, share the challenges

Read more ...

Dow Sealants for Sustainable Infrastructure
Durability is a key requirement for modern infrastructure projects – highways and roads, bridges, airports and airfields, walkways and plazas, parking structures and stadiums. Miles of concrete must

Read more ...

FAIRMATE FAIRCURE WC - White Pigmented Concrete Curing Aid
Buildings have major environmental impacts over their entire life cycle. Resources such as ground cover, forests, water, and energy are depleted to give way to buildings. Today, India has demonstrated

Read more ...

Repair and Rehabilitation of A Minor Bridge in Shravasti District  (UP), India
Scour is a natural phenomenon caused by the erosive action of flowing stream on alluvial beds. Failure of bridge due to scour at their foundations, which in this case consisted of abutments and pier, one 1.2 dia

Read more ...

Faircoat Anti-Carbonation Coating Protects Concrete Structures Like Flyovers, Bridges & Buildings
To protect concrete structures like Flyovers, Bridges, Parking areas, Big Commercial and Residential Buildings, the normal decorative exterior paint will not serve the purpose as these paints are not vapour permeable

Read more ...