How To Repair Leakages In Concrete

Roofs & Terraces?

A terrace is nothing less than the extension of pure living space. Its a place
to relax with family and meet people on a get-together, till it is decently
maintained.

A roof slab is subject to severe weather conditions round the year. The
absence or inadequate waterproofing in this areas can lead to variety of
problem like leakages in ceilings below terrace floor, dampness in parapet
walls or seepage in the terrace slab. Thus, it is important to avoid cracks in
slab in first place and waterproof it to prevent from these problems from
occurring in future.

Before understand the repair procedure, you need to understand the typical
cross-section of Terrace Waterproofing:

1. Structural Concrete (Roof Concrete)

2. Waterproof Coat (Elastomeric Polymer)

3. Protective Screed (12.5 mm thick)

4. Brickbat Coba (in Slope 75-125 mm)

5. Finishing Screed (20-25mm)

 Step by Step Rectification of Water
Leakages in Terrace Slab:
If there are leakages and visible cracks on roof, the one of the following can
be inferred

1. The waterproofing of the RCC slab has failed (Or)

2. No waterproofing has been done for the slab area

Follow this step by step process to rectify the water leakages in Terrace
Slab
Step-1: Identify type of defect and rectify the same
The following checks the following before repairing the visible cracks (<
3mm) and do needful as guided

Defect Type-1: Screed De-bonding:

Check soundness of top screed, look for di-bonding signs by knocking it

with fingers. If you hear a hollow sound, then you need to remove the entire
patch (making hollow sound) and repair it with a repair mortar (polymer
modified mortar)
Defect Type-2: Superficial cracks on Screed:

Visible cracks not giving hollow sounds need to be directly treated. Creating
a V groove (10 X 10 mm) on the crack observed and clean the groove
(with vacuum cleaner and/or water jet). Seal the frove with a Non-shrink
repair mortar available with construction chemical companies like
Permaindia, Sika, Dr.Fixit etc

Step-2: Test the adequacy of the waterproofing done

After doing above (1 & 2) fill the slab with water to a depth of 1-2 (usually
known as water ponding) and check for damp signs (after 72 hrs .).

If there are no signs of dampness observed underneath the slab, then you
are through with its repair.

If dampness is observed, you need to do waterproofing on entire slab area.

Step-3: Redoing Waterproof on the Slab area (If required

only)
Redoing the waterproofing from the RCC slab is cumbersome and
expensive. The existing screed and brick bat layers need to be broken and
removed. A fresh coat of water proofing, insulation layer and screed has to
be laid in order and as per guidelines mentioned.
Alternative to Step-3:
You can also avoid the painful process of waterproofing by adopting an
alternate treatment.

After sealing the cracks, clean the entire top screed surface thoroughly
(remove dirt and deposits. They might de-bond the water proofing layer
applied over the existing layer). Apply priming coat on the cleaned surface.
Apply two coats of an elastomeric waterproofing chemical (having Ultra
Violet ray resistance properties) on the top of priming coat. The
construction chemicals are available with construction chemical companies
like Permaindia, Sika, Dr.Fixit etc.

To check its waterproofing adequacy, do water ponding on slab and check

for damp signs (after 72 hrs.).
Happy Terracing!