Sealant

This article deals with materials for roof waterproofing and for surface waterproofing of buildings .

Other applications, such as the sealing of pipe connections , require special sealing material .

Sealing agents are water-resistant, weather-resistant, non-decaying substances for surface sealing:

• of structures against rainwater, see roof waterproofing
• of structures against earth moisture as well as moisture occurring during use, see building waterproofing
• of structures and containers against aggressive substances, for example in acid construction and chemical engineering.

Traditionally, roof waterproofing was mainly made of plant-based materials such as thatch and wood shingles , natural stones and ceramic roof tiles . From industrialization onwards, mineral roofing tiles , roofing felt as well as lead, zinc and copper sheets were added. Today, corrugated sheets , special bitumen sheets and plastic sheets are also used.

For vertical moisture insulation of foundation walls , tar paper or bitumen adhesive compounds, as well as more recently plastic films (made of polyvinyl chloride or polyisobutylene ) or oppanol films are used.

Traditionally, water-impermeable natural stone was used for masonry in contact with the ground to prevent rising damp . For the horizontal sealing of absorbent masonry, slates of slate were inserted between the stone layers. Today, plastic or bitumen sheets are inserted into the mortar joint for this purpose. There are a number of methods for subsequent horizontal sealing, see: Horizontal barrier .

Wet rooms are sealed according to DIN 18195-5 with bitumen sheeting, bituminous filler or plastic sheeting. In the meantime, however, composite seals are mainly used, which are also referred to as alternative seals . In most cases, a liquid plastic compound is spread on a suitable substrate, which then sets elastically.This type of alternative sealing is carried out in accordance with the leaflet on composite sealing of the Association of German Tile Industry in the Central Association of the German Building Industry (ZDB). Ceramic tiles can then be attached or glued directly to the waterproofing.

Before the waterproofing is carried out, a smooth, possibly subsequently leveled substrate should be created and any foreign bodies should be removed. It is important to ensure that the joints are processed carefully (gluing or welding with gas, electricity or hot air).

Footnotes

1. ↑ DIN 18195-5, waterproofing of buildings - Part 5: Waterproofing against non- pressing water on ceiling surfaces and in wet rooms; Dimensioning and execution
2. ↑ waterproofing assembly , In: Baunetzwissen.de; accessed in May 2018