What Building Owners Need to Know About Commercial Waterproofing

The biggest reason for working with expert commercial waterproofing contractors is to protect your building and keep water out. Failure to maintain a waterproof seal will lead to leaks. As reported by Facility Executive, “Building envelope leaks typically occur at transitions between enclosure systems. All the products on the market—glass/window systems, weather-resistive barriers, and architectural panels, among others—are tested to see how long they will be effective. The systems that are installed on a building are expected to perform for the duration of the warranty. Moisture issues typically occur when one system transitions into another. These can lead to gaps in the protection of the building. Unfortunately, during construction, the responsibility for making sure these transitions are held to the same level of expectation can be a void in the matrix.” Rather than risking the integrity of your building, building owners and managers should think about these three ways an expert adds value and reduces risk.

1. Product Choice Matters

Waterproofing is essential to businesses and is important in protecting their assets. Over time, sealants will break down and need repair, including removal of old materials, inspection of the surface, application, and destructive testing to ensure the repair lasts. The key to preventing damage and additional costs lies in finding and fixing the problems with the right sealants for your unique building and location. 

For example, the two most common types of sealant are urethane and silicone. Silicone utilization is far more common due to its protective properties against ultraviolet ray (UV) breakdown and its overall endurance. Urethane is more common among masonry or projects that require painting, which will inevitably lead to additional services, like pressure washing. Furthermore, masonry projects that rely on urethane will require water applications to clean the materials, and commercial waterproofing contractors can help you tell the difference and choose the right material.

2. Experience Matters

Experience is the key to success for each waterproofing project. The more extensive the understanding and capability of commercial waterproofing contractors, the smaller the margin for error and delay. Experience reduces costs and streamlines work with a proven approach to comprehensive waterproofing services that consider the whole needs of the building and the budget. Executing each assignment accurately will avoid any delays that could lead to any interruptions for businesses and clients. Remember, time is money.  Experienced commercial waterproofing contractors help the facilities management team stay proactive and achieve core goals, including the following:

• Maintaining a safe and healthy building for occupants;
• Identifying leaks and performing timely repairs;
• Reducing the risk of additional damage.

3. Testing and Inspection Matters

Choosing the right commercial waterproofing contractor eliminates the need for a middleman and provides peace of mind. For example, commercial waterproofing contractors use a technique known as destructive testing, which entails physically pulling on the sealant to see if it remains intact. This process will reveal any leaks, dry rot, or mold, and effectively pinpoint the problem.

A professional inspection ensures accuracy and durability for long-lasting waterproofing. Remember that without a trained eye, waterproofing compounds or materials may fail. As a result, your total cost of ownership for the building will grow, effectively rendering all past services useless until the job is completed correctly and properly. 

Work With an Expert Commercial Waterproofing Contractor

Remember that the goal of waterproofing services is to prevent the intrusion of water to areas of buildings that are supposed to stay dry and to give you peace of mind. Ultimately, any area where the elements enter through the building envelope represents a risk. Fortunately, working with an expert helps to maximize the value and maintain the integrity of the building envelope, lowering costs and risks along the way and ensuring all the right materials are used. JOBS Group will protect your assets and keep water out. Contact us today for a free quote.