Think of all the time and money you spent designing and constructing your building. Whether it’s one or one hundred floors, standing water around its foundation can create major structural issues. In addition, roofs, windows, concrete pane joints, outdoor decks and balconies are areas where leaks start and continue to do damage if not attended to early on.
Waterproofing your building protects it from water intrusion and the adverse impact of hydrostatic pressure. At HSG, we look at all aspects of water intrusion from the inside and out.
This blog post will focus on what happens when you ignore the problem, the four leak origin areas, waterproofing core benefits and the HSG difference.
What Happens If You Don’t do Waterproofing
If you never have your building inspected and/or you are aware of some roof or window leakage, you’re at risk for major problems. Here are real-life examples about what happens when you ignore the problem:
- Water dripping from the ceiling.
While initially you can put a bucket under the leak, the problem comes from a hole in the roof. If you don’t remedy the situation, eventually the ceiling tile will give way, possibly injuring your employees. In addition, a dropped tile can damage furniture, equipment and technology. - Standing water next to the foundation.
Not only will it weaken your concrete, but water can seep into your HVAC system causing havoc with heat and air conditioning. - Known window and roof leaks that are getting worse.
These can lead to bacterial problems and insect infestation. Who wants that? - Roof leaks during rain storms.
These seepages ultimately damage the mechanical fasteners, seams and decks on the roof which lead to costly repairs and restorations.
Leak Types
- Curtain Wall: This is when sealed joints have failed and have voids.
- Roof: The first place we look. UV rays, storms and even birds can create holes. Flat roofs are particularly vulnerable to damage.
- Parking Deck: Flooding and concrete damage are problematic.
- Planters: This one is tricky because you don’t know there’s damage until it’s too late. Below is a photo of a planter where we replaced the membrane to prevent leaking.
Commercial Building Waterproofing Core Benefits
Here are the three benefits you will receive through waterproofing:
- Structural Integrity.
Waterproofing keeps the foundation from weakening, thus keeping the entire building intact. - Enhances Indoor Air Quality.
When sitting water is trapped inside the building it serves as a breeding ground for microorganisms and mold that, left untreated, can develop into toxic black mold. - Compliance with Building Codes.
If your building has too much water damage, it can become structurally unsafe, which will make it a code violation. An inspector can come in and shut your business down until the area is repaired.
The HSG Difference
We are super responsive as we have a large team of inspectors and estimators that will walk the building with you seven days a week. When you call or email us, expect a response within two minutes to two hours of your communication.
Our waterproofing experts remove failed caulking, prime the surface and add new sealant and waterproofing, as needed.
We will also conduct the right tests, like the one here, that shows water in the wall and carpeting as detected by our thermal imaging camera. We have 40 years of experience with waterproofing and continue to upgrade our technology so we can pinpoint the source of your leaks. Water can make its way into the smallest crevice and create all kinds of havoc that the human eye cannot detect.
HSG is Your Waterproofing Expert
We have active projects all over Southern California, including Glendale, Orange, Pasadena and Beverly Hills. Give us a call at 323-733-8552 to learn more about how we can help!
