This year you have a perfectly equipped terrace, you have even installed an urban garden, and finally, you have a parasol to guarantee shade, and, it turns out, this outdoor space causes damage to the lower floor due to leaks or humidity. So let nothing spoil your summer; discover how to waterproof quickly and economically without having to remove the existing floor.
Permanently waterproof without raising the ground
If a paved terrace needs renovation due to leaks, it will not be necessary to raise the existing floor in many cases, although there are limitations that, as detailed by the expert, depending on the state of both the structure and the existing floor, whether it needs repairs due to deterioration of the materials, if it can withstand the overload of weight due to adding a new pavement or if it is going to be below the step of the
Waterproofing sheets are placed on the terrace floor, provided that this base is solid, firm, stable, and with the necessary slope to carry the water to the drains. Then you have to pave on top.
In terms of installation work and commissioning, the fully adhered flexible sheet solution is the fastest compared to the other waterproofing systems. “And when it comes to solving a problem as serious as having leaks and leaks, time is a key factor,” says Francisco.
The Durability Factor
When we are talking about renovating a waterproofing in poor condition, it is most likely an asphalt sheet, which has reached the end of its useful life because, in the best of
cases, it can last about 20 years; it has already lost the plasticizing additives that They made her flexible.
“While now a sheet will be installed that cannot lose those plasticizing additives because it does not have them, it does not need them because it is all flexible plastic that does not rot and that, being adequately protected, will last dozens and dozens of years “, they affirm from Estil Guru. In the image, a render that shows the original floor, the waterproofing sheet and the pavement placed on top.
The costs of not having to remove the floor are much cheaper. Because since we are not going to remove the soil or the old waterproofing, demolition, debris removal, and container and landfill work are avoided, which are already going to entail a significant expense.
And since we did not remove the floor, we do not need to rebuild it to be able to tile again, so we save material work and time.
To add the minimum weight and minimum height to the existing floor, we need to be able to glue the new pavement directly onto the waterproofing, continues Francisco. So that the pavement does not come loose or break, we need it to be glued to a firm base. So we need the waterproofing to be the strong base, and we can only have this if it fully adheres to the old floor.
“The only materials that allow this form of installation are liquid-applied waterproofing and flexible sheets, for example, the Water-Stop sheet from Estil Guru,” details the company’s technical director.
To guarantee optimal results, it is essential that the structure is in good condition and can support the weight of the new installation, that it is firm and stable, and with the necessary slope to carry the water to the drains. But it is also essential to ensure that the old floor is well adhered to, without loose pieces or weak areas and that it does not have subsidence or flatness irregularities so that puddles or retentions do not form where the water stagnates.
In the image, a terrace renovated by Sube Interiorismo has an imitation wood porcelain floor.
In principle, any type will work fine. Although if we are looking for the most negligible impact in terms of weight and height added to the existing floor, the best option is a porcelain tile. Currently, there are formats and textures to create spectacular environments in any style.
But this is not the only option; many types of cladding can be placed on top of the sheet, such as artificial grass, continuous pavements, mineral or rubber agglomerates, slabs that incorporate thermal insulation, floating flooring or whatever best suits the Project. In the proposal, the floor is Treviso, a terrazzo from Porcelanosa.
Recommended professional waterproofing
Carrying out the waterproofing of a terrace correctly is a task of responsibility, warns the expert. “Although we are talking about waterproofing with a sheet that has outstanding characteristics, that is easy to handle, and that is applied with usual masonry tools and materials, good long-term results must be ensured, and many factors intervene in the process. ; from the evaluation and preparation of the support with the appropriate techniques and products to the final tiling”.
The skills, knowledge of masonry techniques and materials, and experience of the installer will significantly influence the quality of the result. A professional will always provide this. For example, it will be cautious to check critical points, such as sinks, walls or corners.