How to Waterproof an Expansion Joint
Some expansion joints must be watertight, and it is easier to decide that at design stage than to fix a leak afterwards.
When a joint needs waterproofing
- Joints in the external envelope, where driven rain and standing water are likely.
- External floors, podiums and car park decks.
- Internal floors that are washed down, such as manufacturing areas.
Two ways to do it
- A membrane with the joint. AquAtec is a waterproofing membrane system that encapsulates expansion joints in floors, walls and roofs. AquaFlex does the same for floors and walls. Use these with mechanical joint covers, which need a secondary membrane to keep the gap watertight.
- A joint that seals itself. FlexAtec is a UV-resistant seal joint for internal and external floors and walls. ElastAtec is a highly flexible UV-resistant bandage for internal and external walls and roofs.
What to tell us
- Where the joint is: floor, wall or roof, inside or outside.
- The gap width and movement.
- The traffic crossing it.
- How the membrane should connect to the structural waterproofing either side.
Background: Waterproofing.
Next step
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