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If you want a waterproof structure, do you want the same consistency in the slab, in columns, in walls, in ICF?
No you do not. You need more working time in a slab so that the top can be smoothed and less working time in a wall so liquid pressure reduces below as you fill more of the wall.
So to get Caltite, Sika, Pudlo or Xypex is to get concrete that only suits you some of the time.
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We sell Supervision and the ability to vary the concrete on site to what you need, not a one-size-fits-all concrete or useless extra product.
With us you will Spend Less and get a Much Better Result.
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Waterproof concrete with site supervision and a 12 year
guarantee for just £45 a cubic metre more than concrete.
Nothing on tapes or strips.
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Waterproof concrete:
- Totally waterproof,
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totally proof against chemical attack upon reinforcing steel,
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will not crack over time
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and provides adequate vapour protection for a habitable basement.
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But these benefits depend on the work being carried out well - and that requires experienced, close supervision.
Waterproof concrete is widely known to fail but this is only because everyone, from the most experienced professionals to the least experienced amateurs, knows little more than "concrete's grey and it goes hard".
Actually, concrete varies enormously even if it meets a specified standard such as RC35. The cement choice, how dense it is designed to be and especially how wet it is when mixed. Then, if concrete is just dumped and over or under vibrated it is un-mixed again (segregated) very easily indeed. So it is probably fair to say that every lorry load of concrete, once placed, is entirely unique.
You would think that with all the benefits listed above, all available very economically, that more companies would invest some time understanding the variables and obtaining the concrete quality that would suit their purpose - but very few do. Everyone could easily do better when ordering and placing their concrete if only they had a few hours specific training and supervision.
For instance they will often add water to their concrete so that it flows better, compacts more easily and gets a better looking finish. But that extra water remains in the concrete as passages for water to pass through, so the concrete cannot be waterproof; the extra water pushes cement grains apart so the concrete is not so strong; surface durability is severely compromised; and, probably worst of all, that excess water will eventually dry off causing the concrete to shrink and crack.
The irony is, waterproofing concrete is the cheapest way to achieve a completely dry basement. But because architects and others know concrete would usually leak they specify even more expensive waterproofing products and most of them often fail as well.
On many construction jobs, large and small, architects specify products that will not work under the circumstances they are to be used in and, because they are specified, the contractors are obliged to buy them and use them. The client pays for wasted products as well as the the contractors time to use them, Plus, the contractor adds huge contingency sums* to repair later with resin injection.
Imagine the saving if you spent a lot less money and the waterproof concrete worked.
If your men did a good job your waterproof concrete would remain perfect for 250 years and the saving in wasted product and remedial work would be priceless. Those ordering and placing concrete just require effective supervision to make any waterproof concrete waterproof.
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*During the 90s I was the site engineer for the replacement multi storey car park behind The Square and Richmond Hill in Bournemouth. Llewellyn was the main contractor and Gallagher was the concrete frame sub contractor (I worked for both during that project). We built a basement retail area with an escalator down into it beneath and everyone knew that the hydrophilic tape was not going to work in the joint. Gallagher had £60,000 contingency in their price and still won the work.
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