Wet walls after rainfall
Rain may enter through defects in roofs, gutters, openings, pointing, render or exposed masonry.
What a useful investigation should establish.
A proposal is more useful when it explains the likely cause, the evidence, the affected construction and why a particular repair is being considered.
- Identify whether water is driven by rain, ground conditions, plumbing or condensation.
- Inspect cracks, joints, penetrations, drainage, external levels and previous waterproofing systems.
- Establish the construction type, substrate condition and intended internal environment.
- For below-ground structures, assess maintainability, drainage and the consequences of system failure.
Options, not assumptions01 02 03 04
How the repair may be approached.
Repair external defects
Where practicable, stop water at the source by correcting roofs, rainwater goods, openings, pointing, drainage or ground details.
Barrier protection
A bonded barrier or tanking system may resist water entry when the substrate and junctions can be prepared and detailed appropriately.
Drained protection
A cavity-drain approach can manage water to a suitable outlet or sump rather than relying only on a barrier.
Joint and penetration detailing
Corners, service entries, movement joints and wall–floor interfaces are critical parts of any continuous system.
Important limitation
Waterproofing performance depends on continuity, preparation and details. Applying a product to the visible patch may simply move the water elsewhere. Below-ground work should follow a risk-based design approach and include access, drainage and maintenance considerations where relevant.