elevated walkways - waterproofing

Protecting Balconies, Decks And Elevated Walkways Against Water Intrusion

There is a common problem in enclosed balconies, decks, and elevated walkways that boils down to structural concerns due to water entry. But such common problems can be easily avoided using some very simple measures taken during the design and construction process.

 

Waterproofing

Nevertheless, there is not a single organization being developed to bring industry-wide standards for the proper design and construction of balconies, decks, and elevated walkways. This is because the materials used for waterproofing such structures are the same materials in the roofing and waterproofing industry.

 

Failure to determine how a deck or balcony will accommodate the drainage of water both at the wearing surface and waterproofing membrane will be a great concern for the designer and the contractor or the builder.

 

Concrete Pavers

Therefore, proper considerations must be given to the utilization of concrete pavers that can be removed easily and replaced whenever necessary for the investigation, maintenance, or repair. This also includes other wearing surfaces to provide access to the waterproofing beneath a balcony, deck, or elevated walkways.

 

However, without accessible routes, it must be assumed that the building has been built with the right materials and the proper construction techniques that are required to last through the life expectancy of the structure.

 


Deck Inspectors for Southern California is happy to offer our services in Los Angeles, Orange County as well as San Diego and all Southern California surrounding areas like: Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Monica, Anaheim, Temecula, Vista, Escondido, Carlsbad, and El Cajon

waterproofing methods - balcony decks

Waterproofing Methods And Types For Balcony Decks

Building waterproofing methods are basically the formation of impervious barriers over the surfaces of foundations, roofing, balcony decks, and walls. This includes other structural members of the building to avoid water penetrations through such surfaces.

 

Materials commonly used for building waterproofing include cementitious material, bituminous material, liquid waterproofing membrane, and polyurethane liquid membrane, among others.

 

Waterproofing in buildings is needed for the basement of bathrooms and kitchen, balconies, decks, green roofs, structure, terrace or roofs, walls, water tanks, swimming pools, and the like.

 

 

Cementitious Waterproofing

This process is among the easiest waterproofing methods in any construction. Cementitious waterproofing requires materials that are easily available from suppliers of masonry products, which are easy to apply or mix.

 

The common applications for cementitious waterproofing include the following:

  • Bridges
  • Dams
  • Marine cargo ports and docks
  • Parking structures and lots
  • Railway and subway systems
  • River locks/channel and concrete dikes
  • Sewage treatment plants
  • Tunnels
  • Water treatment plants

 

 

Liquid Waterproofing Membrane

There is a thin coating that consists of a primer coat and a couple of coats on top applied by roller, spray, or trowel. Liquid membrane waterproofing methods can offer more flexibility compared with the cementitious type of waterproofing. The liquid will cure the surface into a rubbery coating on the wall.

 

Basically, the elongation properties of the coating can reach as high as 280%. But the durability of the coating will depend on the type of polymer that the manufacturer will use for making the liquid waterproofing.

 

Liquid waterproofing membrane can be composed of polymer-modified asphalt, which can be applied by spray. Polyurethane liquid membranes are also available for different manufacturers in separate grades for roller, spray, and trowel.

 

 

Bituminous Coating Waterproofing

It is a type of coating that can be used for waterproofing buildings and provides a flexible protective coating. The bituminous coating uses formulation and polymerization grade to provide protection and flexibility against water due to the polymer grade and the reinforcement of fiber.

 

Bituminous coating is otherwise called asphalt coating in which the most common applications include areas that are under screed wet. Such would be an excellent protective coating and waterproofing agent, particularly on surfaces like concrete foundations.

 

 

Bituminous Membrane Waterproofing

Membrane waterproofing is a famous process used for low-sloped roofs or balcony decks because of its proven performance. The self-adhesive membrane and torchon membrane are used in the bituminous waterproofing membrane.

 

Self-adhesive compounds contain asphalt, fillers, and polymers. In addition to that, some compounds like oils and resins are also added to improve adhesion characteristics. Torchon membrane is also another type that can either be exposed or covered. The exposed membrane has a mineral granular aggregate to withstand wear and tear.

 

 

Polyurethane Liquid Membrane Waterproofing

This process is used for the flat roof area, balcony decks, and areas that are exposed to weathering. However, this type of waterproofing is said to be expensive. That said, it can offer higher flexibility. Nevertheless, polyurethane is very sensitive to moisture content, so it is essential to evaluate the moisture content in the concrete slab. Otherwise, de-bonding or peeling of membranes can happen after some time.

 


Deck Inspectors for Southern California is happy to offer our services in Los Angeles, Orange County as well as San Diego and all Southern California surrounding areas like Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Monica, Anaheim, Temecula, Vista, Escondido, Carlsbad, and El Cajon

inspection services

How Buildings Can Collapse

 

There is more than one reason that causes buildings to collapse. Here are some of the chief causes of why commercial and residential buildings collapse in recent years. Thus, it is essential that deck inspection services be consulted to avoid this from happening.

 

 

Structural Failure

 One of the main reasons why buildings collapse is a structural failure. Buildings are designed to carry a particular load. Nevertheless, there are factors that can affect its integrity. Some of the factors include the increase in the number of occupants that deviates from what was earlier planned for the designs.

 

Likewise, when structural designs are done poorly, the overall stability is bound to collapse. Thus, when considering structural overload, people are required to pay attention to dead loads, live loads, and wind loads.

 

Basically, a dead load refers to the elements of the building, such as the weight of the permanent partition floors, roofs, and walls. On the other hand, the live load refers to the furniture or people that move from one area to another. Wind load considers the direction in which the wind blows and specifications need to be catered so that the building can endure the wind pressure.

 

 

Design Inadequacies

 The builder should follow the structural designs closely. When the instructions are not carried properly, then the structure of the building will weaken. A civil engineer stated that any change of earlier planned building structural design into a more complex design not accounted for can increase the weight. It leads to some tension to the columns which could lead to collapse. Perhaps considering deck inspection services to existing designs can help fill in the inadequacies or neglect.

 

 

Incompetence In Engineering Practices

 Improper mixing of concrete is also among the main incompetence by engineers that could lead to issues of building durability. Concrete should undergo three different stages to be approved. Such would include batching, curing, and testing.

 

 

Counterfeit Materials

 There are building materials manufactured in some places where cement or steel bars are counterfeit. This can be used in buildings when the engineer is not cautious, leading to the collapse because building strength is not guaranteed.

 

 

Poor Workmanship

Having a role allocation that is poor in the case of building construction can lead to the mixing of materials poorly. So engineers need to supervise the builders accordingly to avoid this.

 

 

Wrong Building Use

 Switching to another building to be used can pose a threat to the building itself. That is because when a building has changed from its planned intentions, they can be subject to overloading. That could lead to challenges in the design capabilities of the building. It is essential that deck inspection services be consulted first before settling in the building to be used.

 

 

Building Settlement

 In some cases, engineers fail to check the soil strength of the ground where the building is to be constructed. Thus, it could lead to the collapse of the said building in the long run.

 

 

Natural Calamities

 Natural calamities are also a factor in building collapse, particularly in foreign countries. They include cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis that led to a number of building collapses in recent years.

 


Deck Inspectors for Southern California is happy to offer our services in Los Angeles, Orange County as well as San Diego and all Southern California surrounding areas like: Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Monica, Anaheim, Temecula, Vista, Escondido, Carlsbad, and El Cajon