There is a saying that has been circulating in the decoration circle: 30% material, 70% construction. However, if you choose the wrong waterproof building materials, no matter how top-notch the construction technology is, it will not last long.
When decorating, many owners spend their budget on visible materials such as ceramic tiles, cabinets, and soft furnishings, but ignore waterproof building materials and choose low-priced brand-name products for painting.
A year or two after moving in, the bathroom walls become damp and peeling, the downstairs ceiling seeps, and the exterior walls become moldy in rainy weather. Not only do they have to smash bricks and redo waterproofing, but they also have to compensate the neighbors for their losses. The cost of repairs is often more than five times the cost of the initial waterproofing.
There are many types of waterproof building materials on the market, from traditional roll materials and polypropylene cloth to the current mainstream JS waterproof coatings, polyurethane, and asparagus polyurea. It is easy for laymen to be biased by the businessman’s words.
Many decoration workers habitually recommend low-priced polypropylene tarpaulins. The material cost per square meter is extremely low. It seems to be very cost-effective, but in fact it has great hidden dangers.
Polypropylene relies on cement glue powder for bonding and paving, which is highly affected by thermal expansion and contraction of temperature. In the north, the temperature difference between winter and summer is large. A slight settlement of the wall will cause the seams of the membrane to crack, and moisture will penetrate into the wall along the gaps. Moreover, the leakage points are hidden in the future and cannot be repaired locally. All can only be eradicated and redone. This is the most common legacy problem of water leakage repairs in old residential areas.
Adapted to home decoration indoor scenes, water-emulsion JS waterproof coating is currently the most versatile waterproof building material, and it is also a unified standard material for the fine decoration of new homes.
It is a flexible water-based paint that can be applied after mixing with water. It has no pungent odor and can be perfectly combined with cement mortar after construction without bulging or delamination.
For locations such as bathroom floors, pipe roots, and around floor drains that are prone to deformation and long-term water accumulation, the flexible coating can be stretched synchronously with the subtle cracks in the base layer, and the waterproof layer will not break.
Compared with hard waterproof mortar, flexible materials are more suitable for base deformation caused by home decoration settlement and vibration, and the service life can be extended to more than 15 years.
Many people cannot tell the difference between indoor and outdoor waterproof building materials, and blindly mixing materials is also the main cause of water leakage.
Balconies, roofs, and exterior walls are exposed to the sun and rain for a long time. Ultraviolet rays and rain erosion during the day and night cause great losses. Ordinary indoor waterproof coatings have insufficient weather resistance and will powder and fall off in two to three years.
For this kind of outdoor area, it is more suitable to use single-component polyurethane or asparagus polyurea waterproof building materials. After curing, it forms a dense gel waterproof membrane with balanced waterproofing and breathability. It can not only prevent rainwater from penetrating, but also discharge moisture inside the wall to prevent wall bulging.
Especially for self-built houses and attic residents, if water seepage occurs on the exterior wall, it does not require large-area tiling. A thin layer of polyurea waterproofing can effectively solve the leakage in the long term.
When purchasing waterproof building materials, the public is most likely to fall into two consumer misunderstandings.
One is that the thicker the waterproof coating, the better the waterproofing effect. In fact, if the coating is too thick, it will lead to uneven internal curing and direct overall cracking in the later stage. Apply it twice according to the national standard to evenly cover the base surface and the thickness is up to standard. Excessive thickening will only waste materials.
Second, they are superstitious about imported brands and ignore environmental protection indicators.
Indoor bathrooms are closed spaces, and low-quality solvent-based waterproof coatings contain volatile substances such as benzene and formaldehyde. The odor persists for months after painting, posing a long-term health hazard to residents.
Regular national standard waterproof building materials will be marked with ten-ring environmental protection certification and GB waterproof testing number. For home decoration, water-based solvent-free models are preferred, and there is no need to blindly pursue the premiums of big brands.
In addition to kitchens, bathrooms, and roofs, the selection of waterproof building materials for hidden locations throughout the house is also easily overlooked.
For example, on the first floor and in the basement, soil moisture continues to return upwards. Ordinary waterproof coatings cannot withstand hydrostatic pressure. Moisture-proof rigid waterproof slurry needs to be used to block the rise of capillary water. For kitchen and bathroom wall pipes and yin and yang corners, simple application of paint is prone to corner leakage. Waterproof leak-proofing paste and mesh cloth are required to strengthen nodes. These supporting niche waterproof building materials are often the key to preventing microscopic water seepage.
With the popularization of green building policies, the current waterproof building materials industry is also iteratively upgrading, with low VOC, recyclable, and cold construction becoming the mainstream of the industry.
In the past, asphalt waterproofing membranes that required open flame baking have been gradually eliminated from the home improvement market due to fire hazards. Nowadays, mainstream waterproof building materials all support normal temperature and cold construction without the need for fire. They meet the fire protection requirements of indoor construction in residential areas and can also reduce construction smoke pollution.
At the same time, new regulations require that the waterproofing warranty period of all buildings be increased, forcing building materials manufacturers to increase the ratio of raw materials. The aging resistance and corrosion resistance of formal and qualified waterproof building materials have nearly doubled compared to five years ago.
Home decoration has always been about the details. Waterproofing is a hidden project and will be completely covered by ceramic tiles and suspended ceilings after completion. Once a problem occurs, repairs are extremely destructive.
There is no need to blindly pursue high-priced waterproof building materials, but you must follow the three principles of scene adaptation, compliance with environmental protection, and compliance with national standards.
We refuse no-name and no-good products, we refuse to blindly follow workers’ selection of materials at low prices, and we refuse to mix and match materials.
If you do a good job of waterproofing, it can last for decades.
Control the selection of waterproof building materials in advance and avoid leakage risks from the source, which will save you worry and money than spending money on repairs later.
