We often find that the decorative surfaces on both sides of the corridors in hotel rooms are moldy and blackened, with decorative surfaces peeling off from the walls near the bathrooms in the rooms. There are also dripping water sounds on the ceiling in the bathrooms, and water leakage and efflorescence can be found near the sink and water tank. In the rainy season, some residential buildings on top floors also frequently leak. These are common issues in construction that affect the building's functionality and cause irreparable economic losses to the construction unit, as well as damaging their reputation. To effectively address this problem, it is crucial to pay attention to it during the design phase.
Currently, structural self-waterproofing is commonly used in architectural design, which involves utilizing the inherent properties of the structure and adding waterproofing agents to concrete to prevent water seepage. This necessitates increasing the thickness of reinforced concrete walls. High molecular weight waterproof membranes, which have seen rapid development in recent years, are widely used on roofs, basement slabs, side walls, and other areas, with good results. In water tanks, water towers, and elevated water storage tanks, there are often pipes for inflow and outflow. If, during design, the two pipes are very close together, and the pre-buried sleeve is not adequately vibrated during concrete pouring, the concrete may not be sufficiently dense, leading to seepage when storing water. Therefore, it is advisable to increase the spacing between pipes during design. For highly humid areas such as bathrooms, structural self-waterproofing is also commonly used, with additional reinforcement methods like adding three felt and four oil coatings to the ground and surrounding walls. However, this method is labor-intensive, and asphalt smoke can pollute the surrounding environment, making the construction process complicated and the results less than ideal. Another approach in structural design involves adding a cast-in-place wall with a 200mm height, equal in thickness to the walls, and with double-sided steel reinforcement with a diameter of 6.5α200 around the bathroom walls. This method blocks the path of ground water seepage into the wall capillaries. This method requires minimal investment and produces good results. When installing bathtubs in bathrooms, attention should also be paid to ensuring that the bathtub is tightly against the wall, and then face tiles are pressed onto the bathtub. The gap between the tiles and the bathtub should be filled with glass glue to prevent water splashed during bathing from flowing down through the seam to the bottom of the bathtub. The bathtub base should also be sloped, with a small drainage outlet on the side sloping towards the floor drain. Additionally, when reserving the drain pipe in the bathroom, the diameter of the hole should be two sizes larger than the diameter of the pipe to be installed. After installation, when filling the holes around the pipe, the base should first be cleaned, with loose concrete and other debris removed, and then washed to remove dust. The bottom form should be set up, and a thin cement slurry should be brushed on the base. Then, fine stone concrete should be mixed and filled, with the filling done in layers, no more than 40mm at a time, and the intervals should be consistent. If leakage occurs in specific areas during the project, leakage repair companies suggest the following methods for repair.
1. Utilizing aluminum salt waterproofing agents for leak sealing
Aluminate waterproofing agent is a water solution mainly composed of inorganic aluminum salts, mixed with various other inorganic salts. When mixed with cement mortar, it reacts with calcium hydroxide formed during the hydration of cement, creating colloidal and crystalline substances that are insoluble in water. These substances fill the voids within the cement mortar, blocking capillary channels in cement mortar or concrete, thereby enhancing the densification and waterproofing properties of the mixture. To use, locate the leakage point, enlarge it manually, clean it, and then fill and cure the area with cement mortar mixed with the aluminate waterproofing agent.
2. Utilizing Leak King for leak sealing
Technical Specifications: Temperature: (20±2)℃
3. Usage Instructions
Identify leak points and chisel them into a "V" shape, remove debris within the "V," and rinse clean with water.
B. Mix 1kg of Leak King with 0.3 to 0.35kg of water, forming a paste-like consistency.
C. Place the slurry into the "V" shaped area, compact and smooth it, water can be stopped within 10 minutes.
For water seepage holes, simply pour in the Leak King dry powder, compact and smooth it out.
For severely leaking joints, adopt drainage methods by setting up a drainage port. First, block the upper part of the leaking joint, then seal the lower part, and finally, seal the drainage port.
For large-scale leaks, first locate the leak point, then use Leak King to seal it, followed by smoothing over with AEC expansive cement mortar or ordinary cement mortar.
3. Utilizing multi-functional building adhesive powder for leak repair
Multi-functional construction adhesive powder is a versatile material that can serve as an adhesive for rigid building materials, as an additive for concrete to shorten setting time and enhance strength, and even replace caustic soda to remove oil stains left on components after demolding. Primarily, it is used as a leak-proof and sealant material for walls, floors, roofs, basements, and liquid storage pools. Usage instructions:
Clear surface debris from the base, rinse thoroughly with water, and ensure the base is moist but free of water droplets.
B. Mix the emulsion at a ratio of 2:1 water to powder, apply it evenly to the surface with a brush, using approximately 0.5kg/㎡, and ensure it is used within 2.5 hours of initial setting.
C. For the powder-to-water ratio of 3:1, apply using standard plastering techniques with a thickness of 3-4mm and a dosage of 3-4kg/㎡. After 2 hours, smooth the surface with a trowel. This method is easy to implement, similar to standard plastering, and ensures waterproofing effectiveness. Once dried, soak the surface for 24 hours, then chisel through the waterproofing layer to find that the surface is moist while the inner layer remains dry, indicating high strength in the waterproofing layer. This demonstrates that the powder indeed enhances waterproofing capabilities.
These methods have been applied in construction practices, achieving excellent waterproofing effects. Aluminum salt waterproofing agents, due to their affordability, are ideal for preventive measures on a large scale and offer superior waterproofing results. The Leak King, though more expensive, is preferable for quick and short-term leak sealing in scattered areas. Multi-functional waterproofing powder is suitable for bathroom surface painting, exterior wall waterproofing, and ground pipe hole repairs, providing good leak-sealing performance with simple operation.
