how to make your garage waterproof once and for all
15 Sep, 2021, 1:39 AM

Like most homeowners, you’ve probably converted the extra space in your garage to store a bunch of stuff. The last thing you’d want is to find these items waterlogged after a heavy downpour. Read on to find out how to effectively waterproof your garage and keep your belongings safe.

Waterproofing Your Garage: What Are Your Options?

Today’s garages are furnished with sectional and roller doors designed to resist water penetration even in extreme weather. If your house is a few decades old, however, the garage might not be as well-equipped. Here are some of the options you might consider to beef up your waterproofing:

– Crystalline Concrete: This chemical treatment works to seal up the tiny pores and crevices normally found on concrete structures. The crystals are activated by water, which means they’ll fill up any voids that form after application.Garage Waterproofing

– Epoxy/Waterproof Paint: Both can be applied directly on floors and walls. Surfaces should be left for at least two days for proper curing.

– Waterproof Membrane: A concrete slab can be equipped with a waterproof membrane on the underside to prevent groundwater seepage. This would obviously need to be done during construction.

– Polypropylene Tiles: Properly-installed polypropylene tiles will prevent water flow in either direction.

Now, each of these waterproofing agents will have its own unique strengths and drawbacks. If you’re looking for a solution that beats them all, tanking is your best bet. Let’s find out more about it, shall we?

Tanking Slurry

Also referred to as cementitious tanking, this is a specially-formulated blend of cement extracts, chemical modifiers, acrylic polymers, and aggregates. These compounds work hand-in-hand to resist water penetration. Cementitious tanking is available in both powder form and as a pre-mixed slurry; the former needs to be mixed with water prior to application. Both are equally effective in damp-proofing structures that are continually exposed to moisture; basements, cellars etc.

On that note, here’s how to make your garage water-resistant using taking slurry:

– Prep the surfaces: Scrape off the paint currently on your walls/floor and clean them thoroughly. Also fill up all holes and cracks.

– Hydrate: You will need to moisturize the surfaces onto which the slurry will go. Avoid leaving stagnant pools as you wet them up.

– Mix up the slurry: Every manufacturer provides clear instructions on how to go about this; follow them to the letter and prepare enough slurry for 30-40 minutes of application. Ideally, you’ll want to stir the powder gradually into the water over several minutes so that the mix achieves optimal consistency. Don’t forget to wear protective gear (i.e. face mask and goggles).

– Apply the first & second coats: Cementitious slurry needs at least two coats to work properly. For the first coat, apply directly onto the surface using horizontal strokes. Start where the wall meets the floor and apply up to 1m high/ 10 cm across in either direction.

The second coat should only be applied once the first one is touch dry; this could take up to a day. Use vertical strokes this time.

– Render: It’s recommended to apply a coat of breathable render prior to finishing; this should be done 24 hours after the second coat. Leave the surface to cure fully before applying the decorative finish.

Garage External Waterproofing

Taking Care of Mold

 

You know you have a mold problem if you notice these things after waterproofing:

– The items still keep getting damp somehow

– There’s a strange odor whose source you cannot trace

Mold thrives in dark, damp, and poorly-ventilated spaces. It’s extremely hazardous to human health, and should thus be dealt with promptly once the symptoms show. You can use a solution such as hydrogen peroxide or distilled white vinegar to scrub it out — be sure to put on protective gear before you get started.

The Last Word in Garage Waterproofing

We highlighted earlier that your garage door plays a huge role in keeping water out. If you don’t have much confidence in the one you currently have, it’s the high time you upgraded. What you need is a door that can stand up to whatever extremities the weather throws at it.

Our Garage Doors are perfectly-equipped for this kind of task, as you can see from the standard features:

– Robust high-tensile steel construction

– Center-axle Drum Stabilizer

– Reinforced Roller Guides and Double-edge Webbing

– Aluminum rail & neoprene weather proof strip

With the ability to resist storms, hail, and wind gusts, the roller door will take care of your water concerns once and for all.

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