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Every Tom, Dick and Harry has probably come across a house or any other construction building with leakages, right? Nobody wants to have a swimming pool for a living room come rainy season. That is why you have to be keen on implementing waterproofing solutions in Kenya during construction. It is the protective measure that makes a surface water resistant or prevents unwanted penetration of liquids. This process increases the durability of concrete surfaces in a building. In today’s post, you will gain knowledge about the benefits of waterproofing, what to consider before waterproofing; different methods of waterproofing in Kenya and the top five waterproofing companies in Kenya. Let’s get started!
Benefits of waterproofing concrete
Waterproofing in Kenya is usually either a low priority or excluded when planning for the pre-construction process, focusing on other factors such as design specifications and site preparation. To add on, waterproofing is also one element that increases the overall construction budget more often than not due to the complexities of the process.
However, incorporating waterproofing services in Kenya will definitely come in handy during the rainy seasons of April, May and June. It will save you tonnes of money in repairs in fixing the building’s aesthetics as well as the quality of the interior and exterior surfaces. Waterproofing is an investment that is undoubtedly worthwhile, benefitting property developers and owners in the long run.
Here are three benefits of waterproofing;
1. Prevents the growth of mould and mildew
Waterproofing is a surefire way of preventing moisture-induced fungi from getting into the walls. This makes it essential to structural integrity and health.
2. Reduces maintenance and clean-up costs.
With waterproof structures, you have a lot less work to do when cleaning up after a heavy rainstorm or flood. Basic maintenance is much easier, the waterproof factor keeps things clean.
3. Increase property value.
When the time comes to sell, a waterproofed basement or subfloor is a good selling point. No one wants to buy a house with water problems. Now that you are familiar with the main benefits, next should be the different types of waterproofing methods.
The different methods of waterproofing
Waterproofing is necessary for the basement, walls, bathrooms, kitchens, balconies, decks, terraces or roofs, green roofs, water tanks, and swimming pools. The waterproofing companies in Kenya are accustomed to the utilization of the following methods;
1. Cementitious waterproofing
This is usually the easiest method of waterproofing in construction. The materials for cementitious waterproofing in Kenya are readily available from suppliers of masonry products. And they are easy to mix and apply.
The applications of the cementitious waterproofing technique are in internal wet areas, such as toilets. That is why it does not go through the contract and expansion process.
2. Liquid Waterproofing Membrane
The liquid membrane(a material used in construction to improve a building’s performance) consists of a primer coat and two topcoats. The application of the coatings is by spray, roller, or trowel. The liquid layer is thin and offers more flexibility than the cementitious types of waterproofing. The liquid cures into a rubbery coating on the wall. The elongation properties of the coat can reach as high as 280%. The durability of the waterproofing coating depends on what type of polymer the manufacturer used for the making of the liquid waterproofing.
3. Bitumen Waterproofing
Bituminous coating (asphalt coating) is made of bitumen-based materials. It is a flexible protective coat based on its formulation and polymerization grade. The flexibility and protection against water can be influenced by the polymer grade and reinforcement of fibre. The most common applications of bituminous coatings include areas that are beneath the screed wet. It is an excellent protective coating and waterproofing agent, especially on surfaces such as concrete foundations.
4. Bituminous Waterproofing
This is a popular method used for low-sloped roofs due to its proven performance. The bituminous waterproofing membrane has a torch on the layer and a self-adhesive membrane.
Self-adhesive compounds comprise asphalt, polymers, and filler; additionally, certain resins and oils may be added to improve adhesion characteristics. The self-adhesive type has a low shelf life as the bonding properties of the membrane reduce with time.
5. Polyurethane Liquid Membrane Waterproofing
The polyurethane liquid membrane method of waterproofing is used for the flat roof area and is exposed to weathering. This waterproofing method is expensive. Polyurethane liquid membrane can offer higher flexibility. Polyurethane is very sensitive to moisture content. Therefore before application, one has to be very careful evaluating the moisture content of the concrete slab, otherwise peeling or de-bonding of membranes may happen after some time.
3 points to consider before waterproofing
In the world of construction, it is advisable to conduct enough research about the process. In Kenya, not everyone at the construction site will be honourable and trustworthy, you ought to know your ABCs first. This will also help you in narrowing down which waterproofing companies in Kenya you should work with.
1. Durability
You’ll want a solution that has a combination of the high tensile strength (the force required to break the specimen or cause complete separation of constituents in a linear direction), shore A hardness (a measure of the hardness of a given material or how resistant it will be to permanent indentation), and elongation (the distance the membrane will stretch from its original size to the point at which it breaks).
Elongation is especially important when waterproofing areas like roofs, since the waterproofing membrane will expand and shrink as the temperature changes, and you need a solution that has good elongation so it won’t start to crack or tear.
2. Bonding ability
If you’re bonding to a substrate, you need to make sure that the product will bond tightly to the type of material you’re waterproofing. Fully bonded material keeps water from tracking beneath the membrane.
3. Curing time
The curing time of different liquid waterproofing membrane solutions varies a lot. The faster the curing time, the faster you can get the job done, and the faster it protects the surface from rain.
Some spray-applied waterproofing solutions take just seconds to cure. Other hand-applied liquid waterproofing systems can take up to 48 hours to cure, which is not ideal because they’re susceptible to rain during that time.
Once you have the respective answers, you can move on to contracting different waterproofing services in Kenya.
The top 5 waterproofing companies in Kenya
It is no secret that Kenya is a land of opportunity when it comes to business. This is one of the reasons why the country has seen a boom in the construction industry in recent years. One of the most important aspects of any construction project is waterproofing. This is because Kenya is a country that is prone to rain and flooding. As such, it is important to ensure that your building is properly waterproofed to avoid any damage.
There are many waterproofing companies in Kenya that can help you with this.
Here are the top five waterproofing companies in Kenya you should consider:
1. Mau West Company Ltd
They are specialists who provide waterproofing and flooring solutions. At Mau West Company Ltd, they deal with water retaining structures such as swimming pools, concrete water tanks and septic tanks.
Beep them through +254 721 766 847 or write them an email at [email protected]
2. Kenya waterproofing company limited.
With over 500 successful waterproofing construction projects in Kenya, they pride themselves on being specialists in waterproofing basements, flat roofs, swimming pools and water tanks, epoxy floors, industrial floors, and parking deck floors.
Be sure to give them a call or shoot them an email today; +254 (0) 722510880 +254 (0) 733510880
3. Waco ltd
The company’s leadership comprise experts in waterproofing technologies, sports fields, and pavement engineering and which provides a confident base for reliable project and service delivery to the highest standards.
Need a quick waterproofing fix? Reach out to them via +254-20-2220223 | +254-722-529533.
4. In Doors East Africa
10 years ago, they started as a retail outlet dealing mainly in home accessories. Over the years, they have expanded their retail outlets and increased their product range. They are also well-known distributors of waterproofing services and systems.
Get in touch with them today! Call +254734692331 or email [email protected].
5. Itabuild Group
They take pride in their Italian design and quality, manufactured by local craftsmen for the East African market. Itabuild group supplies complete roofing solutions, from flat roofs to green roofs among other services.
Contact them via 020-2304121/28 on their landline and 0733-603925 on their mobile.
Summary
These top 5 waterproofing companies in Kenya are guaranteed to lend a helping hand in providing their services. Be sure to be in contact with either one and walk into a well-proofed home soon enough!
