Concrete is a naturally porous material. While this is often not a problem because concrete is not highly porous, it often creates the need for residential concrete surfaces to be waterproofed in order to increase their durability and to enhance their performance.
One of the best ways to make concrete waterproof is through the addition of crystalline waterproofing products. These are able to achieve the desired effect by forming crystals that are long and narrow upon exposure to water. Once the crystals have been formed, they seal the naturally-occurring pores on the concrete surface, thereby making it difficult for water to penetrate through the concrete surface.
A few advantages of crystalline waterproofing are discussed below.
Crystalline Waterproofing Is Economical
One of the main advantages of using crystalline waterproofing products on concrete is their affordability. This stems from the fact that these products have a high crystallization potency. What this means is that a small amount of the product can be used to waterproof a large area without compromising on quality. Crystalline waterproofing products are also very readily available and are relatively inexpensive.
Crystalline Products Are Safe to Use
Another significant advantage of using crystalline waterproofing products is that they are a safe option. This is because crystalline waterproofing products do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful to human health upon exposure. The presence of volatile organic compounds in waterproofing products poses a threat to your health because these products can easily be released into the air and can be easily inhaled.
With crystalline waterproofing, you will not have to worry about the presence of volatile organic compounds on your concrete surfaces.
Continuous Waterproofing Protection
Perhaps the greatest advantage of crystalline waterproofing products is the fact that they offer continuous protection once introduced into the concrete mixture.
Once the crystals have been formed, they remain intact on the concrete surface to which the waterproofing product was applied. In the event that there should be water on the concrete surface once again, the previously dormant crystals will continue to grow or form. This means that you do not have to keep re-applying the waterproofing product on the concrete surface.
Ease of Application
Unlike other types of waterproofing products, crystalline waterproofing products are added to the concrete mix as opposed to being applied onto concrete that has already been poured. For this reason, the use of crystalline waterproofing products is less labour-intensive and therefore much easier.