Protection of the foundation from water: we save the bath from decay

  • Dec 10, 2020
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The choice of a method for protecting the foundation should be based on its design. The ubiquitous slightly degraded strip foundation for one-story baths is made in such a way as to avoid groundwater contact with the base of the foundation. The groundwater level depends on the weather conditions and the structural features of the bath:

  • for spring, a rise in the level of groundwater is typical (in some areas - by a meter or more);
  • wetting of concrete occurs not only due to groundwater, but also due to floods;
  • wetting of concrete becomes more intensive during precipitation.

Waterproofing methods

There are several methods to cope with material wetting:

  • the sides of the foundation are covered with 2-layer bitumen. This procedure is called vertical waterproofing. In addition to bitumen, a polyethylene film is also used: it is lined with a trench before concreting and is wound on the sides.

    This method achieves two goals:
    protect the foundation from moisture penetration from below and prevent the soil from absorbing water from the concrete slurry;
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  • a waterproof coating is formed around the bath - a blind area, which provides protection at ground level. The rig provides flood protection but has its limitations. If the soil on which the foundation stands is uneven, or if there is waterproof clay at the level of the sole, then this coverage is not enough.

    It must be strengthened with a drainage system to drain water from the foundation, which is equipped with corrugated pipes on a sand cushion;
  • the upper level of the foundation is protected by an ebb tide to protect it from atmospheric precipitation. The ebb for the plinth is made of galvanized steel (sometimes there are ceramic and plastic options).

    The plinth is placed in such a way that one side of it covers the horizontal surface of the foundation (leaving a small outlet for draining the water). The upper edge of the drain is attached to the wall and sealed with some kind of mastic.

Waterproofing application methods

There are four main methods of waterproofing concrete:

  • Coating - surfaces are treated with bitumen or bitumen mastic with the addition of rubber;
  • Oleechny - rolled waterproofing materials are glued to the concrete surface;
  • Penetrating - it is used together with special compounds that, when applied to concrete, form a waterproof layer;
  • Screen - is a protective structure that is built around the perimeter of the foundation and has sealed seams.

Lubricated waterproofing is suitable for baths that do not have a basement. The gluing and screening methods are focused on basements and are distinguished by their tightness.

The roll material is glued to the walls in stripes with an overlap and implies the continuous application of adhesive mastic to the wall. Gluing the seams alone is not enough as it does not provide a sufficient barrier.