Challenged for space and time? Build all the way to the property line Backfill Sooner Lower the cost of labor and materials Reduce future maintenance and water problems How do I know which brand is best? Our Systems compare with Traditional Membranes

Your site has been excavated and the foundation footings have been placed. You’re ready to begin the formwork and pour the concrete.  Or are you?  The excavation has left little room to strip the forms, much less apply a water or damproofing membrane after surface prep.  The excavator is long gone and adjacent buildings leave you with little room to operate in any case.  What can you do with no time and limited options?

Don’t get blind-sided by last moment space limitations.

Whether your foundation needs to be damp proof or all out water proofed against hydrostatic pressure, “Integral Crystalline Waterproofing (ICW)” provides a quick and cost-saving alternative to traditional membranes. Now you can eliminate the challenges associated with “Blind Wall” applications in the planning stages, during construction or even when you find yourself in tight quarters after the concrete pour.

Challenged for space and time?
At any time before, during or after the construction of a below-grade concrete foundation “Integral Crystalline Waterproofing (ICW)” can solve the problem quickly and easily. Manufacturers such as Kryton International Inc, in B.C. Canada have developed concrete admixtures and cementitious surface treatments that stop water intrusion from any direction.  Simply add a crystalline waterproofing admixture at the batch plant or on site.  Already poured?  Crystalline surface treatments can be applied on the inside to solve your waterproofing challenge.

Don’t get blind-sided by last moment space limitations.

Build all the way to the property line
External waterproofing membranes require room to make the application on the outside of a structure. This can cause problems if you build too close to the property line or run out of room because of adjacent structures.  Replace external membranes with a crystalline waterproofing admixture, such as KIM® (Krystol Internal Membrane™) and you have the flexibility to design a larger footprint – maximizing space and getting the most out of your property. 

Lower the cost of labor and materials
By eliminating external membranes you also save on the cost of labor and materials that would normally be involved with such a system. In addition, even the best applicators make mistakes when they are tired, overworked and underpaid.  Avoid the headaches and wasted time & money caused by insufficient seam coverage, poor surface preparation and inadequate adhesion.

Reduce future maintenance and water problems
The best crystalline products become part of the concrete matrix.  Unlike traditional external membranes, true crystalline waterproofing systems are permanent and do not require replacement.  In addition, the leading systems have the unique ability to self-seal hairline cracks that inevitably occur over the life of a structure - Saving time, money and aggravation years into the future.

How do I know which brand is best?
Once you have decided to go with crystalline waterproofing, you are faced with a choice of products from competing manufacturers.  Choosing the best one can be problematic.

The literature of one product reads very much the same as another.  One must be careful not to confuse crystalline waterproofing products with products that are simply concrete densifiers or pore blockers.

Watch also for products that claim to grow crystals but really only crystallize as they dry.
Such products do not grow through the concrete, nor do they reactivate in the presence of water to fill cracks.  Products that contain silicates, stearates, or talc are temporary waterproofers at best, so manufacturers should offer long-term warranties and they should be able to state that their products are not based on these chemicals.

With all systems in construction, good communication and co-ordination between the manufacturer, specifier and contractor are paramount for total success.

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