Water may be essential to life, but it is also one element in this planet that can bring about frequent and large-scale damage to natural or man-made structures. Scientific laws prevail, making water in its various forms a very effective agent of corrosion, erosion, and physical damages.
To facility managers and waterproofing contractors, the work to prevent damages in building facilities begin with the understanding of how water behaves when present in various quantities. The ways in which it reacts with other materials in its surroundings — such as concrete, soil, wood, chemicals, and the like — and the extent of damages it brings, are also important to waterproofing contractors seeking a way to manage or prevent any damage in facilities.
Sources of Damage
Waterproofing contractors often encounter repair projects wherein the damage could have been prevented had the necessary precautions been taken in advance. Furthermore, the severity of damage could have been lesser had immediate intervention been initiated.
Damage occurs when dampness seeps into areas of the property and stays there for long periods of time. The entry of moisture into building areas can come from any of the following sources:
1. Building materials, such as porous surfaces
2. Cracks and fissures
3. Poorly-sealed splices
4. Humidity
5. Roof leaks
6. Damage to the drainage system
7. Poor management of fountains, man-made lakes and pools
8. Groundwater run-off
