Will Heavy Rains Ruin Concrete Waterproofing?

Concrete is used in many areas of the home, from sidewalks to porches and foundations. A great way to protect your concrete, especially a concrete foundation or basement walls, is to use a waterproofing sealer. When you have a concrete foundation or basement, waterproofing is a must to avoid any damage to the home. With waterproofing, water from heavy rains or flooding will not take place. Speaking of heavy rains, have you ever wondered if a heavy downpour would ruin your waterproofing efforts? Learning more about how to waterproof concrete will answer this question as well as help you to learn more about how to better protect your home.

Planning Your Waterproofing

The waterproofing process for concrete must be scheduled. The process needs to be completed during a dry time frame for the climate. If you try to place waterproofing on your concrete and it rains, your efforts are null and void. The waterproofing chemical needs time to dry so that it can fully protect your concrete.

For a foundation or basement walls, a certain portion of the concrete will need to be treated with concrete waterproofing chemicals. Layout lines will need to be drawn so that you know where the waterproofing material needs to be placed. Depending on the area you are working with, you may need to add waterproofing to the exterior and interior sides of the concrete, such as basement walls, just for added protection.

When it comes to a foundation, any portion of the wall that has usable space needs to be waterproofed. Depending on the grading of the site as well, you want to ensure all areas are waterproofed to avoid any water damage in the future.  

Choosing a Product

There are so many waterproofing chemicals on the market today, it can be difficult to choose a product. Especially if this is your first waterproofing project. It is important to check the label of a waterproofing product to see what the temperature limitations are. You want to be sure to apply the material when temperatures outside are appropriate so that the chemical will dry as needed and go on smoothly.

Certain products may require more drying time as well as certain temperatures to apply. These products also do not need to get wet as they are being applied or during the drying phase. Be sure to check the weather so that you can avoid any heavy rains that could interfere with the integrity of the product.

Curing Time

The curing time is of the utmost importance. You need to be well aware of the curing time for each sheet membrane. This can take days to complete. The concrete will continue to dry long after it has been poured and any water vapor that is escaping from the concrete will prevent a waterproofing material from bonding properly. Be sure to consider the curing time of concrete before applying any waterproofing option.

Essentially, the best idea is to hire a professional to do the work for you. They know the proper curing times and when to complete the job so that the concrete is waterproofed correctly, standing the test of time for years to come.