26 Nov Water ingress solutions – Waterstop injection to concrete structures
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Waterstop Injection – Water Ingress Solutions for concrete structures
Hydrostatic pressure can often cause water to seep through the floor to wall joints in infill slab constructed buildings.
Prolonged rainstorms cause many buildings to leak. Sometimes areas that did not cause any noticeable issues during previous rain events, become a passageway for water entry.
If you discover any small voids and cracks in the concrete, blockwork or floor to wall joints that can allow external water to seep through, it is best to seal them promptly so that they do not become a passageway for water ingress that could lead to serious issues in the future if left untreated. If you see moisture ingress in areas such as the slab or through the wall, the first thing you need to do is to identify the source of the leak.
Common causes of water ingress through the floor to wall joints in infill slabs:
- Inadequate or compromised waterproofing
- Excess groundwater from rain runoff not properly managed
- Cracks in the concrete or masonry wall and /or slab
- Hydrostatic pressure
The hydrostatic pressure from the rising water table and the lateral pressure from saturated soil are pushing the excess water into basements slabs, foundation and retaining walls making them susceptible to water ingress through cracks, porous building materials, holes, joints and/or inadequate waterproofing.
Poor drainage may cause water to collect against a concrete foundation and retaining walls during heavy and persistent rain events and may build up the volume to cause problems attributable to lateral and hydrostatic pressure. Steps taken to direct water flow away from basements/foundations and eliminate pooling will reduce the chances of water building up around the building.
How water gets into your basement
An important note is that even if the waterproofing system is in perfect condition, water can still enter the property through the cold joints around the perimeter of the slab due to the increased hydrostatic pressure. Water ingress in the floor to wall joint is commonly experienced during heavy rain due to the rising water table bringing the groundwater closer to the surface. This increases the hydrostatic pressure to the slab of your building and it can force water to pass through the construction joint between the floor and the wall, so that this joint effectively begins working as a highway passage for water.
Water ingress through the wall to floor joint during the wet season
Video: This is a wall to floor joint in a fairly newly built house. The house is the highest in the area, but the backyard falls towards the house. Water builds up against the wall rain and the water enters the home through the huge gap in the wall to floor joint.
Inadequate drainage allows water to build up against the wall. Paired with ineffective waterproofing, water enters via the wall to floor joint. Our specialist technician can put his hand past the loose Damp-proof Course (DPC) and touch the soil. It shows how easily hydrostatic pressure can flood the house.
The black and blue sheeting you can see is the damp proof course, which had not been installed under the wall framing. As you can see, our technician was able to put his hand inside the joint and reach down to the soil, which shows how easily hydrostatic pressure can flood the house.
- Leak sealing injection of floor/wall joint: Our leak sealing specialists intersect the joint at intervals and inject a high-quality hydrophilic polyurethane resin at high pressure into the joint. After allowing the polyurethane to react and bind with any water present in the joint and surrounding concrete to form a flexible and waterproof seal, the injection ports were removed, and holes are filled with a suitable concrete repair material.
Image: Example of leak sealing injection with polyurethane resin into a concrete wall.
The leak sealing process, or polyurethane injection, involves the high-pressure injection of flexible water-reactive polyurethane (resin) into targeted areas to form a durable seal. This system is ideal where a long-lasting waterproof seal is required to stop the passage of water or other liquids through gaps, cracks, joints, and penetrations – typically in concrete and masonry constructions.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!
... Before the situation becomes critical.
Contact our friendly team today
If you have experienced seepage issues during big rain events in the past, now is a good time to speak with a remedial leak sealing and concrete defect repair specialist to discuss a lasting solution to the problem. Once the storm season hits, the leaks are very likely to recommence and can potentially present a larger issue than before.
Seepage issues may typically originate through a crack in the concrete, a masonry wall, a failed waterproof membrane or may be created by hydrostatic pressure under the foundation caused by the rising groundwater table.
Water seeps in where the wall meets the floor, showing efflorescence.
If damp issues in your building are not properly remediated, it can lead to a multitude of issues in your building, such as concrete deterioration, destruction of building materials, pest infestation (white ants/termites), mould growth and belongings damaged by moisture. Over time, it could eventually lead to structural damage if left untreated.
Give Waterstop Solutions a call today if you need assistance and repairs done. We can help with inspection, provide you with tailored solutions and even help with the prioritisation of remedial works such as leak sealing, waterproof membrane refurbishment and concrete defect repairs for multistory buildings, commercial, industrial and civil sites.
Waterstop Solutions’ inspectors are equipped with extensive industry knowledge and the latest in non-invasive inspection technologies. Our thorough site assessment and diagnosis process provides our clients with industry-leading, expert advice. Following an inspection, our specialist staff formulate a free, comprehensive quotation including recommendations tailored to the assessed concerns, which is then emailed to you in a timely manner.
In addition to our regular inspection service, we can provide audits of multi-story concrete buildings. The audit consists of a defect information list of items classed in priorities from P1 to P4, and their repair types. Ask us about how to secure a booking for this additional service.
We help provide water ingress solutions of many kinds; from minor seepage issues to more distressing situations. Every wet season, we are working tirelessly helping as many as possible as quickly as we can during this stressful time that our clients are experiencing.
Give us a call to discuss the best protective treatment application for your vertical and horizontal surfaces to help you choose the appropriate product and methods to protect them and how to best prepare the surface before installation for best performance.
If you have any issues with water ingress, rooftop leaks, leaking balcony, leaking basement, wet lift pit, cracking concrete slabs, structural cracks, concrete deterioration, spalling concrete, concrete cancer, deteriorated joints, moisture, seepage, efflorescence, rising damp and/or high-flow active leaks in concrete structures, we would be happy to assist you. You are welcome to contact us with any questions that you may have.
Brisbane office: (07) 3205 1899
Email: [email protected]
Sydney office: (02) 9346 8308
Email: [email protected]
Are you interested in finding out more about the various remedial building services we are providing?
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Waterstop Solutions Capability Statement is now available to download as PDF. (The image is clickable and opens up a link to our Capability Statement).
Good maintenance begins with a proactive approach to maintain, keep, preserve and protect a building.
Remember that seepage/water ingress into areas such as balconies, basements, concrete roofs, car parks and retaining walls, should not be ignored – call a remedial waterproofing professional today for an assessment to provide you with the best solution for your situation.
At Waterstop Solutions, we carry out a wide range of remedial works to concrete structures post-construction stage in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sydney and outlying areas in Queensland and New South Wales.
Equipped with major civil works experience, we can quickly determine the best approach to rectify all seepage and concrete deterioration issues.
It takes licenced remedial waterproofer and leak sealing experts like us at Waterstop Solutions to ensure that the pathways for water to ingress are properly sealed off. A depth of technical knowledge and experience, along with a proud reputation for integrity and reliability, has made Waterstop Solutions the go-to company for many Defect Managers working for major construction companies across Queensland and New South Wales.
We at Waterstop Solutions have the technical and practical expertise to diagnose the source of the leak and will provide you with our recommended solution to achieving an effective, high-quality, long-lasting repair to stop the water ingress with minimal disruption
We believe in and are committed to always delivering high-quality solutions by utilising the right products and techniques for each specific project combined with our industry-leading know-how on tap. We have a large talent pool of specialist leak sealing and concrete repair technicians with Certificate III in construction waterproofing in Queensland and New South Wales that are extensively trained in our systems and project execution methods.
The leadership positions on every Waterstop Solutions project are operated by highly qualified, certified and experienced industry professionals. Our in-house skills and expertise gained from more than 60 years of industry experience provide a full range of high-quality remedial waterproofing and concrete repair works to commercial buildings, civil infrastructures, industrial sites and residential properties. From waterproofing diagnostics, preventative and remediation solutions – All of our waterproofing solutions are quality guaranteed.