Do you need waterproofing of an open balcony or terrace and what material should you choose?
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Waterproofing an open balcony or terrace is not a luxury, but a technological necessity, necessary to protect structures from premature destruction, prevent leaks and extend the service life of the coating (for example, ceramic tiles). Open areas are constantly exposed to the aggressive effects of rain, snow, temperature changes and ultraviolet rays. Without a reliable protective barrier, an ordinary terrace quickly turns into a source of serious problems for the entire structure.
Why does an unprotected terrace or balcony collapse?
The main danger for open structures in Ukraine is the cyclical freezing and thawing of water (freeze-thaw cycles).
- — Wedge effect: Concrete has a porous structure. When rainwater or melted snow penetrates the slab, it stays there.
- — Destructive expansion: during frosts, water turns into ice and expands in volume by approximately 9%.
- — Microcracking: This pressure tears the concrete from the inside. With each winter, the microcracks turn into deep cracks.
Key reasons to waterproof
1. Stopping reinforcement corrosion
The concrete slab is held together by an internal iron frame. When water reaches the reinforcement, the rusting process begins. Iron oxide (rust) takes up much more space than the iron itself. This creates internal pressure, which causes pieces of concrete to simply fall off the base, losing their holding power.
2. Protection of adjacent and lower premises
If a living space, garage or basement is located under a balcony (or terrace), the lack of insulation guarantees that the ceiling underneath will leak. Water always finds the shortest path down. This leads to damage to expensive interior decoration, the appearance of an unpleasant smell of dampness and short-circuiting of electrical wiring.
3. Prevention of fungus and mold
A constantly humid environment is the perfect breeding ground for black mold and disease-causing fungi. They not only destroy building materials, but also release toxic spores into the air.
4. Preserving the finish
The most common problem of terraces is the delamination of ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware. If moisture gets under the tile adhesive, then after the first winter the adhesive loses its properties. The tiles begin to "swell", crack and completely move away from the base. High-quality waterproofing creates an elastic layer that levels thermal expansion and prevents water from entering under the tiles.
5. Colossal financial savings
The cost of high-quality waterproofing materials and work may seem high at the construction stage. However, major repairs to a damaged terrace (removing old tiles, restoring concrete, replacing reinforcement, and re-finishing) are 5–10 times more expensive. Waterproofing is a one-time investment that protects against regular repair costs every 2–3 years.
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Modern solutions: what to choose?
For open areas, ordinary roofing felt is no longer effective. Today, two-component cement-polymer mixtures are used, which create an elastic continuous layer. Contact us and our specialists will help you choose a proven mixture .
Please note: the junction of the wall and the floor is the most difficult and vulnerable area when waterproofing any terrace or open balcony. It is this corner joint that bears the greatest load due to thermal expansion and micro movements of the building structures.
For open terraces and balconies that are subject to constant temperature fluctuations and deformations, we recommend the highly elastic Hydroflex TEP tape based on thermoplastic elastomer. Its elasticity is up to 600%: the tape easily withstands critical building movements, stretching without tearing or deformation.
Installation technology: the tape is securely glued directly to the junction area using a special two-component epoxy adhesive Hydroflex 21. Thanks to the perforation at the edges, it is firmly monolithic with the base.
Never neglect the waterproofing of an outdoor terrace or balcony, as it is the only way to ensure that the recreation area remains safe, beautiful, and dry for many decades.
