9 Signs that Indicate When It’s Time to Re-Waterproof Your Home

Water-related problems are amongst the main causes of property structural damage and home insurance claims.

Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners overlook the importance of waterproofing. In fact, most don’t even consider waterproofing until mould appears, water is leaking everywhere or their home floods completely.

So, when was the last time you waterproofed your home?

Is your existing waterproofing still adequately protecting your property?

If you’re unsure, here are the most common signs to look out for that indicate it’s time to consider waterproofing your home again.

What are the common signs to re-waterproof your home?

Waterproofing plays a significant part in making your property durable, safe and comfortable.

But while quality waterproofing usually lasts for at least 10-15 years, poor waterproofing solutions can fail sooner and cause unexpected water damage.

That’s why it’s important to always keep your property in check. Being aware of water issues at home can help you identify if there’s an immediate need to re-waterproof your home with better waterproofing applications and products.

To guide you, here are indicative signs to watch out for:

1. Puddles in your basement

Visit your basement after rain or a storm and see if there are puddles that have formed.

Excess moisture is often a result of drainage or gutter problems, so seeing puddles in your basement is a sign to do some repair and maintenance work on them.

2. Growing mould

Is there a musty odour lingering in your basement or other parts of the house? This might be due to mould infestation caused by water seepage or too much moisture.

This mould can be unhealthy, which is why it’s best to have your place re-waterproofed if your family is suffering from recurring allergic reactions like runny noses, persistent coughs and itchy throats.

3. More visible water stains

Dampness on your walls can be an indication that there are leaks and drips caused by faulty pipes. Meanwhile, water stains on the floor might be a sign that there’s too much water seeping up through your foundations.

Overall, the more visible these water stains are, the more urgently you need to re-waterproof your home.

4. Bowed walls and warped doors

Bowed walls happen when the ground soil absorbs too much moisture, contracts and puts pressure on the walls of your property. It’s the same for wooden doors – they are being warped or deformed due to the absorption of excessive moisture.

These unwanted changes call for an improved waterproofing system.

5. Sparkling or chalky walls

Those sparkling (efflorescence) or chalky substances you see on your walls are salts and other minerals left behind by water as it evaporates. They are clear signs that water is seeping within your walls, so make sure you don’t ignore them.

6. Cracks in walls and floors

Cracks, inadequate sealings and other physical damage on your walls and floors can easily permit water to infiltrate your home. They also indicate that your foundations are weakening and already in need of repair or re-waterproofing.

7. Increasing numbers of insects

Insects like bugs, cockroaches and termites tend to breed in damp areas. It’s best to check which part of the house they are coming from, as you’ll probably find possible water leakages along the way.

8. Subpar waterproofing membranes

If you’re seeing signs of poor waterproofing results too frequently, that’s a sign that the waterproofing product wasn’t the right choice for your home.

Don’t settle for inferior waterproofing as it could put you and your family at risk. Without a superior waterproofing solution, it can be hard to preserve your home’s value and beauty, as water can cause serious damage over time.

9. Rising damp

You may come across paint or acrylic render blistering off the walls of your property, typically 300 to 500mm above the prevailing ground level. This is an indication that the no damp course was installed during construction, or that the damp course has failed.

At Scientific Waterproofing Products (SWP), we have an extensive range of cement-based waterproofing products that meet AS 4654.1:2012 and AS4020, can be applied to a wet surface, can withstand both positive and negative hydrostatic pressure (good for positive & negative waterproofing), are UV stable, are fully submersible and made from high-quality raw materials, backed with a 10-year product warranty and supported by a local team of experts who are just a phone call away. We’ll make sure your waterproofing is right this second time around!

So, is it time to waterproof your home again?

How did you go checking on the signs we’ve listed? Did you find that you need to re-waterproof your home?

No worries, we’ve got you covered!

Our team at SWP will ensure your home is adequately waterproofed by providing you with reliable cement-based solutions that not only strengthen and waterproof your walls and concrete ceilings, but also protect your home from leaks and foundational decay – now and in the future.

These high-quality waterproofing products include:

• Drizoro Maxseal Flex M – Mix with water to create a high-performance flexible coating for waterproofing and protecting concrete, cement block, clay brick, fibro cement, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) – Hebel®, plus James Hardie Secura® flooring against positive and negative pressure.
• Drizoro Maxseal Flex – Once applied and cured, this product provides a non-toxic, flexible and waterproof coating with high adhesion on common substrates in construction, including concrete, stone, traditional mortar plasters (for positive tanking), bricks, concrete blocks, AAC – Hebel®, permanent formwork such as Dincel®, Rediwall®, Rise Products®, Permaform®, Zeggo® and much more.
• Drizoro Maxrest – Firmly adheres to the surface on which it is applied to restore concrete to its original condition.
• Drizoro Maxplug – A quick-setting cement-based mortar that instantly plugs cracks, holes and any other openings in concrete, masonry and various other substrates to stop running water.

Choose the right waterproofing solutions for your home

At SWP, our team is here to provide you with the right waterproofing for all your maintenance or restoration requirements. We offer a number of Drizoro cement-based waterproof coatings to address your specific needs.

If you’ve got any questions or issues around waterproofing, or you’d like to find out which product is best for your needs, contact us today! You can also check out a list of local Drizoro resellers and applicators here.

As always, SWP is committed to providing the right waterproofing solution to any problem or application.