Five Classic Solutions for Resolving Interior Water Leakage Problems

by Vivek Choudhary Nice life

In concrete structures, where concrete slabs and walls are used as the environmental barrier, water leakage is a concern. Monolithic concrete elements of compressive strength around 3000 psi, and as-thin-as one inch, are generally water-tight except at discontinuities.

Locations where concrete elements are not generally monolithic include:

·         Temperature, shrinkage, and structural cracks

·         Construction (cold), isolation and expansion joints

·         Interfaces of (M/E/P), mechanical, electrical, and plumbing penetrations

·         Honeycombs and similar locations of poor consolidation

In well consolidated, normal weight concrete, high pH components within the cement/gel paste accumulate around and react with iron on the steels surface to resist corrosion from actively occurring.  

However, concrete cracking due to high stress and associated strain defects in the element allows leakage and lateral migration of water and effectively introduce all of the necessary components oxygen, water, and an electrolyte needed for uncontrolled corrosion of steel reinforcement. In addition, groundwater leakage through concrete continues to bring water with dissolved oxygen and enhances the electrolytic environment; further saltwater exacerbates the problem dramatically.

Best waterproofing company states that when tasked with solving a below-grade water leakage problem, either around a building foundation or civil engineering structure, there are five classic positive sides, exterior, and negative side, interior, approaches for consideration.

Crack/Joint Routing, Caulking, and Dry-packing

This water leakage solutions in Delhi involves an interior surface seal on the leaking concrete element. Thus, water is controlled on the interior concrete element face; however, the void remains filled with water. A simplistic first attempt is to paste over a leaking crack/joint with a high viscosity, elastomeric compound. This paste should typically extend over the crack/joint one inch, and the paste should be about thick; sometimes, it is reinforced with a scrim or mesh. On some occasions, this may resolve the leakage problem long term, provided cracks are static; however, this solution is generally short-term in performance in most situations. Costs vary; $ 5.00/LF is common, plus mobilization.

Crack/Joint Injection, Chemical Grouting

This technique, when properly performed, may fill the void within the leaking concrete element. Water and air are controlled by freely interacting at the steel reinforcing interface. There are three basic sealing water leaks at concrete wall/floor discontinuities (cracks/ joints and interfaces). 

Water Management and Drainage

This concept is not considered a waterproofing solution by definition; it is a water control technique; it allows flow from exterior to interior. Therefore, it can be very simple to complex.

·         Simple water management solutions may involve:

·         Cutting a slot/opening into a floor slab adjacent to the footing or wall leakage area(s).

·         Drilling relief holes into the composite wall structure.

·         Channelling captured water to a nearby drain.

·         Slot/opening depths and widths vary based on water flow rates and the technique used. 

Coatings, Sealers, Mortar Reactants

This waterproofing solutions in Delhi involves placing a bonded layer or chemically reactive mortar (crystalline growth) agent on the concrete interior surface, experiencing water leakage (negative side treatment). All coatings and reactive agents require the substrate to be free of permeating water before installation. Thus, chemical grouting or crack/joint routing, caulking, and dry-packing may be first performed to alleviant active water leakage before coating or reactive mortar agent installation.

Interior coatings generally come from the same generic family of polymers as used for pressure injection (i.e., epoxy, urethane, acrylics and latex). Interior coatings must resist both the effects of negative side water and water-vapour pressure. These coatings can be (vapour permeable) or (vapour retarders/barriers).

Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP) Technology

This technology is an electrical solution for drying out concrete and protecting reinforcing steel in concrete. EOP systems fundamentally consist of a power supply and two oppositely charged electrodes. The power supply charges an anode (+) terminal at one end of a concrete element and a cathode (-) terminal at the other end.

As per the waterproofing contractors in Delhi NCR, Low voltage (24 to 28 volts) output from the power supply across the terminals is created through the concrete element via water containing micro-voids. Current flows from cathode to anode, and electrons flow from anode to cathode. EOP installations are designed to create a low-intensity electric field(s) within the wet concrete element(s) and adjacent soil.

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Created on Jun 14th 2021 05:26. Viewed 279 times.

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