Water damage costs Australian homeowners millions of dollars every year, but most of this damage is preventable. By waterproofing your home properly, you can protect it from the perils of excess moisture and avoid the costly repair bills faced by less fortunate and less well-informed property owners. Today, our home waterproofing experts share their top waterproofing tips and inside knowledge so homeowners everywhere can take the necessary steps to protect their most valuable asset.
Why Waterproofing Your Home is Essential
Remedial waterproofing sounds like too much trouble to some people, especially homeowners with very busy professional and personal lives. For such people, it can seem easier just to wait until a leak appears. But this is a big mistake. Waterproofing your home to a professional standard is not an optional upgrade that can wait until you’re feeling flush or have more time to supervise a work team. Effective home waterproofing is essential. Without it, your home could suffer one or more of the following issues in the future:
- Cracked Foundations – Water that penetrates your home’s foundations can cause cracks in the concrete as it freezes and melts, continually expanding and contracting during the colder months of the year. Sealing bathrooms, showers, and other high-risk areas can significantly reduce the risk of such foundational damage.
- Crumbling Walls – Excess moisture can seep into wood and drywall, causing structural damage to internal and external walls over time. Waterproofing your home will help prevent such deterioration.
- Collapsing Balconies – Standing water on balconies can make its way into the concrete via tiny cracks in the surface, where it may subsequently cause considerable damage.
- Mouldy Bathroom Fittings – Excess moisture is often encountered in bathrooms, even when no leaks are present. But when the waterproofing is compromised, health hazards such as mould and mildew growth can be expected to appear.
These are just a few examples of the problems you could face if waterproofing your home is one of those jobs that keeps getting postponed. To avoid the potentially huge repair bills and inconvenience that so often accompany water damage to residential properties, we recommend taking action now.
Common Waterproofing Solutions for Homes
The most popular and effective home waterproofing solutions available to Sydney homeowners include the following:
- Sheet Membranes – Resilient, durable and very effective when properly installed, sheet membranes are widely used in Sydney properties to protect roofs and foundations from water ingress.
- Liquid Membranes – Liquid home waterproofing membranes can be used in the same places as sheet membranes. In most cases, multiple coats are required to ensure full waterproofing, but liquid membranes are often the best choice when working in small areas with unique challenges.
- Smart Grout – Grouting failures are responsible for many bathroom and shower leaks. With the installation of smart grout, a self-healing grout, such failures can be eliminated (assuming the leaking shower repairs are performed by a professional).
Other commonly employed sealing & waterproofing solutions include various advanced sealants and cementitious coatings, which are strategically installed in high-risk areas such as balconies and bathrooms.
Practical Waterproofing Tips for Homeowners
Waterproofing your home is just the first step: if you want to make sure your property remains protected, it’s important to follow the suggestions below, which come from our waterproofing experts.
- Inspect Exposed Concrete, Sealing any Cracks That You Find
- Clean Your Gutters Regularly to Ensure Good Drainage
- Arrange for Professional Inspections at Regular Intervals
If you’re not completely sure what you’re looking for, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to inspect your home every now and then, to look for early signs of water damage/leaks. An experienced professional can also provide more home waterproofing tips to help you in the future.
What are the signs that my home needs waterproofing?
The most obvious signs your home needs waterproofing include visible stains and mould growth, which can be spotted with a thorough visual inspection. Check out our article on waterproofing mistakes to find out what not to do!
How SmartSealed Can Help Protect Your Home
With more than 20 years of experience in home waterproofing, you won’t be surprised to learn that we’re highly regarded by our happy customers. Our no-tile-removal bathroom and shower leak repairs ensure minimal disruption and offer a fast, effective solution to some of the most commonly encountered residential waterproofing issues in Sydney.
In addition to fixing leaking bathrooms/showers and our leak detection services, we also perform leaking balcony repairs and corporate & strata waterproofing/sealing work. Contact us to discuss your needs with one of our experts and take advantage of our free inspection/quotation service in Sydney.
