One of the things often overlooked in waterproofing is the importance of sealing joints. 

It doesn’t matter how good the waterproofing on concrete surfaces is if water can leak through the joints.  It is our estimate that upwards of 80% of leaks occurring in a building are because nobody bothered to seal the joints.

Wherever there is a joint in the concrete, such as a cold joint or the construction joint between a horizontal surface and a vertical surface, it is important to ensure that these joints are properly sealed with the use of an appropriate waterstop, perhaps complementing it with other specialized materials.

This is called “design detailing,” and it is critical to ensure that the building remains free of leaks and consequent damage.

There are various types of waterstops that should be placed in the concrete between the time of the first and second concrete pour. Common types include PVC and swellable waterstops.

When renovating an older building that may not have had a waterstop installed, then material such as polyurethane (PU) can be placed on top of the concrete to perform this task.