Waterproofing Information

Foundation waterproofing plays a critical role in keeping any type of basement dry under some of the most extreme conditions, so I went searching for the types and information that I'm seeing on other fellow builder blogs.  Here's some of the information I've found.

Liquid Membrane Waterproofing:
You apply a liquid membrane by spray, roller, or trowel. The liquid cures into a rubbery coating on the wall.  Liquid coatings have the advantages of quick application, low in-place cost, and excellent elongation. One of the chief disadvantages is the possible inconsistency in coverage. The typical application thickness is 60 mils, but it takes a careful applicator to be sure of always achieving that minimum coverage.

Sheet Membranes Waterproofing:
The most commonly specified sheet materials are self-adhering rubberized asphalt membranes. These 60-mil-thick membranes are composed of rubberized asphalt laminated to a waterproof polyethylene film. The asphalt side is incredibly sticky but is covered by a release paper, which you remove during application.  A chief advantage of sheet membranes is their consistent thickness. Because they're manufactured to exacting tolerances, you can be sure of the 60-mil coverage. These membranes also have good elongation.

A higher in-place cost is one of the main disadvantages of sheets. The cost of the material itself is likely to be greater on a square-foot basis than the liquid membranes. Labor cost is also higher, because of all the cutting, handling, reinforcing, and detailing you have to go through during installation.

Geo-Mat Waterproofing:
Mar-flex Geo-Mat rolls are made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) which offers strong resistance to hydrostatic pressure and provide excellent drainage. Mar-flex Geo-Mat rolls feature dimples that are aligned along vertical and horizontal axis to rapidly channel water from grade to the footer drainage system.