Right approach to the waterproofing of a building

The arrival of monsoon is alarmed by different activities; one of them is many housing societies undertaking a building waterproofing work. That constitutes applying tar and filling of the cracks with some sealants such as calking compounds, mastics or with pastes like polysulphides. Often due to the lack of proper information, or due to the monetary constrains, such works are under taken as an immediate and cheapest remedy. When such work is completed, the building is left with a shabby look and the entire city with an ugly appearance, as number of like efficacies prop up. After carrying out such treatments on the building the leakages remain as they were, members’ grievances are not attended to, and frustration is brought to the office bearers. For many it becomes a hard way of learning that there is “no short cut to waterproofing”.

The water is important factor in a creation of a structure; water is prime factor in the destruction of it. Without water no modern structure can come into existence. If we succeed in preventing water entering in to that structure, we increase its life by many times, to surpass its decided life on the design table.

Preventing ingress of water into a structure body is not an easy job. There are various factors affecting the existence of a structure. With proper maintenance one can eliminate some of the causes responsible for the destruction; thereby more utility years are added to the designed life span of that building. Waterproofing is an important activity in a maintenance schedule of a building. But it was not looked at with seriousness as it deserved, till recent time. Now lots of research work is going around the world on the subject of waterproofing. Many new ideas, products and methods are emerging as a consequence of the research.
The important concept around which all the methods of waterproofing are designed is called in short BDD. That is create a Barrier to stop water entering into the structure, Direct all free flowing water in to the channels or pipes to carry it and design and maintain a perfect Disposal system to transport this water to the ultimate drainage system. When this is done thoroughly, the results are astonishing.

The whole structure is exposed to the elements of nature. In a structure body there are hollow pockets, weaker spots and capillaries which store and carry water. There are moving members in a structure which are required to be considered while deciding upon the method for the treatment. The water has a tendency to stick, travel, move and exert pressure on the surroundings. It also has a property to dissolve certain components or impurities present in the building material. The gasses present in the environment have their say in increasing the complexity of the problem. All these factors are required to be considered before adopting a system of treatment.

When waterproofing is done systematically it performs for long, protects the inner core of the structure and reduces the cost on the maintenance. A building without leakages contributes in the development of one’s own self and has many positive sides attached to it to live with.

Mobile Phone Tower and Terrace waterproofing

Is mobile phone a blessing in disguise?

God knows! What man knows is that it is a devil that is loved by all. The Devil has made everybody a slave and this slavery is voluntarily accepted. At times mobile phone is worse than mere menace, but still no one can think of a world without it. Lot many negative attributes and controversies are attached to it, at the same time it is a wonderful piece of modern gadget, man

has ever developed, for the use of an entire mankind. Whatever turns a technology may take; it looks like, that, mobile phone will be indispensible in near future and so will be the Mobile Phone Tower catering the services.

How water enters the structure?

Cell phone receiver and transponders are normally fixed on a steel tower like structure which is of lattice type and the assembly is then fixed on the terrace floor of a building. This installation comes with a cabin which hosts some precious machinery and with lot of aluminum strips, about 3cms. in width and 4 mm. in thickness. These strips provide earthing to the equipments, but the problem is that they run allover and they are fixed to the surface by metal fasteners. The spots where the nailing is done become a critical area from where water enters the structure. This water then travels vertically or laterally allover in the structure. It appears on the surface from a weak spot, at any floor level in the building. The source spots become difficult to waterproof by usual sealing materials because there is too much of movement of the strip, physically as well as due to the variations in the temperature. It is possible to waterproof this area with special type of materials which withstand against the problems.

During the installation of cell phone antenna, if proper attention is not given to the waterproofing of terrace floor then it results into sever damages to the structure. It is neither in the interest of Cell phone service provider nor of the building owners to have leakages from the terrace and elsewhere.

Is it possible to have Cell Phone Tower and still have a leakage proof building?

Yes, certainly! It is possible to install an antenna and still have a leakage proof structure. The menace of leakages caucused by Cello Phone antenna can be eradicated completely by adopting a proper approach.
In my opinion this can be done in two ways.

1. At the design level one can make the provisions to carve out premises for the installations of antenna. The premises planned for the purpose should be drawn in such a manner that although in appearance it is a part of the main structure, it remains independent of it. Since the facility is being created while the structure is being constructed, the waterproofing of entire building can be well carried out, with ease.

2. Where the antenna is to be installed on the existing structure, the utmost care should be taken to see that throughout, the entire place remain accessible. Even the area underneath the cabin, which is a part of the whole installation, should have a clear approach. As far as possible excessive nailing, or insertions of metal, in to the structure should be kept to its minimum. The nail heads should be properly covered, so that the water does not enter in to the structure. Special chemicals and methods are available to take care of the typical problems. With such care damages to the structure can be avoided.

So let us now have a cake and eat it too!