Drainage mat

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Drainage mats (also drain mats , drainage systems , surface drainage ) are industrially manufactured mats that have been used as a drainage layer for the substructure of balconies and terraces to protect against frost damage since the early 1980s .

These drainage mats can be used on both fixed and loosely laid coverings or natural stones . The drainage or drainage channels protect against damage from moisture or tension.

In the case of glued coverings (e.g. tiles ), the drainage mats are installed between the covering and the substructure (e.g. screed or adhesive bed). They prevent the seepage water penetrating through the joints from accumulating in the construction and causing damage such as efflorescence or frost damage.

In the case of loose coverings, drainage mats replace pedestals or are used under layers of gravel or chippings. The reason for this is that they divert water much better than gravel or chippings (study by the Institute for Textile Construction and Environmental Technology (tBU), 2004). Even though gravel and chippings are still the most common base carriers in this area today, there is a trend towards these more durable solutions, which are primarily processed by specialist companies (especially tilers and roofers).

Often drainage mats are used together with suitable drainage gratings, which are built into the interior at the transition from the balcony or terrace. These grates catch water from surfaces and facades and divert it into the surface drainage. These gratings are also available as a barrier-free solution for wheelchair-accessible transitions.

A further development of the drainage mat are z. B. Terrassone panels under which the drainage was already finished, installed at the factory. The Terrassone slab is a combination of drainage and finished flooring. In this version, the drainage system does not consist of mats, but a combination of oven-dried chippings ( fine chippings, grain size 2–5) and various synthetic resins (e.g. polyester resin ). The drainage is covered by a produced tile (usually made of porcelain stoneware or granite or other weather-resistant natural stone and also serves as a finished floor covering for the outside area.