
10 Feb Why are drip trays not a long term solution to water ingress?
“… ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ …” ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ “๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐” ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป?
– “Band-aid” fixes like drip trays/drip pans can accelerate and hide symptoms of rusting reinforcing steel embedded in the concrete slab.
The inventive solution to a leaking pipe penetration in the video above shows that while the water is re-directed, the issue has not been rectified. Moisture is still allowed to travel through the pathway of the pipe penetration. Drip trays can hide visual signs of concrete cancer, like delamination, spalling, calcium deposits (e.g. calthemite stalactites), efflorescence (salt deposits), rust stains from embedded reinforcing steel, exposed rebar. Corrosion of reinforcing steel and other embedded metals is the leading cause of deterioration in concrete.

Rusted drip tray and spalling concrete in a car park.
This is why installing drip trays/drip pans are a short-term solution. They re-direct water leaks in concrete slab ceilings, but they do not fix the root cause. To protect against asset deterioration, to ensure a longer asset lifetime and avoid an increased long-term capital cost, we recommend leak sealing injections that will stop water from entering and travelling through the pathway of the core hole in the concert slab. Concrete repairs are also advised as part of the solution if required.
Why is leaking pipe penetrations a common problem?

Garden hose and funnel to redirect water in a garage. (Installed by others.)
Water leaks around pipe penetrations/core holes forย gas, water, sewer and electrical lines, is a prevalent problem. A common reason is that they are sealed with a cement-based water plug or a patch from the interior side of the building during original construction. The bond to the concrete fails over time, allowing a pathway for water to leak around the pipe penetration. The plug does not seal the gaps throughout the whole wall or slab and eventually, water finds its way into the gaps and leaks through the wall or slab around the pipe. Another common reason is that when a hole for the pipe is drilled through the concrete, the coring process through the concrete wall or slab can cause damage to the concrete structure by creating cracks or breaking chips out of concrete. This can provide a direct path for water to pass through the concrete.
Any water that finds a seepage path through cracks and air voids present in concrete will readily carry minerals such as calcium hydroxide and calcium ion to the underside of the structure. When the leachate solution makes contact with the carbon dioxide in the air, it causes a chemical reaction, which deposits calcium carbonate on the outside of the concrete structure.
Other trace elements such as iron from rusting reinforcing steel may be transported and deposited by the leachate at the same time as the calcium carbonate. This may give the calthemites an orange or red tint. The sight of calthemite is a visual sign that calcium is being leached from the concrete structure and may indicate that the concrete is gradually degrading. In steel-reinforced concrete, the presence of water, oxygen and chlorides breaks down the alkaline protection provided by the concrete to the steel, and this can lead to the development of concrete cancer if left untreated.
A correct and cost-effective solution
Waterstop Solutions leak sealing injection and remedial waterproofing specialists frequently carry out leak sealing injections that will stop water from entering and travelling through the pathway of the core hole in the concrete slab.
- Before leak sealing injections
- During leak sealing injections
- Pipe penetration leak sealed. Injection ports pulled and holes plugged with a rapid setting repair mortar.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐!
Contact our friendly team today
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.
๐๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐บ๐๐น๐๐ถ-๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐. 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.
Brisbane office: (07) 3205 1899ย ย
Email:ย [email protected]
Sydney office: (02) 9346 8308ย ย
Email: [email protected]
Goodย maintenanceย begins with aย proactiveย approach to maintain, keep, preserve and protect a building.ย
Remember that seepage/water ingress into areas such as basements, concrete roofs, car parks and retaining walls, should not be ignored โ call a remedial waterproofing professional today for an assessment to provide you with the best solution for your situation.
Atย Waterstop Solutions,ย we carry out a wide range of remedial works to concrete structures post construction stage.
Equipped with major civil works experience, we can quickly determine the best approach to rectify all seepage and concrete deterioration issues.