Company Announcement - Damage to installed  weatherproofing systems and poor design are two of  the main causes of leaks in buildings, says Gordon Anderson, one of South Africa's most experienced waterproofing authorities, currently consulting to a.b.e. Construction Chemicals, part of the Chryso Southern Africa Group. Anderson says both external and internal areas of both residential and commercial properties require efficient waterproofing."External areas are areas exposed to the elements such as roofs, balconies, and terraces. Internal areas include showers and bathrooms and, in commercial developments, gyms, showers, kitchens, water features and planter boxes," Anderson states.

"There is little doubt that there are few things more annoying than a leaking building due to the failure or omission of the waterproofing installation. Interestingly, water ingress can only occur from one, or a combination, of the following reasons:

• Poor design;
• Selection of inferior or unsuitable waterproofing materials;
• Bad workmanship; and, importantly,
• Damage to the installed waterproofing system.

"My experience commonly indicates that damage to an installed waterproofing system is the prime offender when it comes to leaks. Such damage is often caused by trades/workers having scant regard for the waterproofing. For example, often when television aerials are installed, the relative wiring is secured by nailing through the waterproofing; and the fitting of lightning arrestors is another regular cause of problems. Hammering nails through the waterproofing system can have only one result: leaks.

"For successful waterproofing, input from experts should be sought: a competent and experienced  architect/designer working with a efficient builder will guide property-owners through the pitfalls. The specified waterproofing systems must be appropriate and made with the full knowledge of the substrate and what will be applied on top of it. Without this information, there will be a risk of failure due to the wrong materials being used in the wrong place.

"Finally, the selection of the waterproofing applicator is important. The company selected should have a verifiable track record. As leading suppliers of waterproofing systems, a.b.e. Construction Chemicals could provide advice in this regard. The company's products have already waterproofed over 800 000 South African homes, after all. Waterproofing does not have to be a problem. By using quality and trusted materials - and paying attention to detail - a good result will be achieved," Anderson adds.