Waterproofing restoration and/or replacement installation on a structure due to moisture-related deterioration necessitates the following additional steps to ensure quality: Examine the leak history; Determine the source of the water; Exclude the possibility of ambient moisture. Determine and confirm the leak’s location. Repair the leak; Restore the damage. Beyond the original waterproofing design, new corrective actions may be required, such as drainage improvements, resurfacing or injections at interior surfaces to fill cracks, water barriers/sealing at penetrations, concrete patching and/or rehabilitation, mold remediation, and so on.
Finally, a solid waterproofing quality assurance program is required to ensure that the design intent is met, and that constructability performance includes approvals and communications. Here are some general guidelines that may help to protect the building from a failed waterproofing system:
- A pre-construction meeting should be held before the arrival of waterproofing material.
- Meet with the owner or a representative to discuss typical site/structure conditions and critical waterproofing details.
- Conduct regular work reviews to ensure all project requirements are met.
- Examine the storage conditions and specifications.
- Go over problem-solving techniques and procedures to ensure successful project completion.
- Safeguard finished products and limit traffic by different trades that could cause damage.
Effective Quality Assurance programs should have different objectives during each phase of the project, but all aim to achieve a single goal: a waterproofing system that performs as expected.