"waterproofing"

Koster were asked to design a waterproofing system which wold be able to deal with the demands and stresses within the one of the London Underground tunnels. The most suitable system involved injecting the Koster Injection Gel G4 into the brick tunnel lining thus leaving an elastic resin within the pores and voids in the substrate. This acrylic gel would not allow water to pass, can flex and move with the anticipated vibrations in the tunnel and will not degrade over time. It was important for the solution to environmentally stable so limit the impact on the environment.

Concrete foundations of a wind energy plant: Due to the influences of the weather over the years, the following damages were noticed: •Cracks due to movement •Moisture into the structure •Spalling of the concrete •Corrosion of the reinforcement •Flaking paint The first step in the restoration of the foundation was pressure injecting the cracks - through which an elastic closure of the cracks was realized. The total surface was strengthened with a unique sillicate liquid. A waterproof sloped layer was installed; finally, the moving joint between the foundations and the steel tower of the wind energy plant was sealed elastically.

Furnitubes designed and manufactured a number of AKRI retaining steel wall planters with ped and tray system for rooftop scheme in in Bexleyheath, south London. AKRI’s unique ped and tray system allows the planters to be left freestanding, sitting on a layer of waterproof membrane. Decking and pergolas were installed and benches were later retro-fitted to the planters to seamlessly integrate seating, manufactured in all steel to accommodate the required A fire rating, creating stunning landscaped roof tops across both buildings in the heart of a bustling city.

The Shetland Museum and Archive Centre at Hays Dock in Lerwick was built at a cost of £11.6 million which was part financed by the Heritage Lottery fund. The walls of the Museum were constructed in the shape of a fishing boat sail and the building won a prestigious design award from the Glasgow Institute of Architects. The harbour is regularly battered with wind speeds in excess of 100mph and Hertalan membranes were specified to waterproof the roofs and fa çades of the building due to their durability, BBA, ISO14001 and WINTEC certification and the products 20 yr manufacturer warranty.

Handsmooth House is a characteristically bright white house perched on a hill overlooking the Oxfordshire countryside. Initiated in 2007, the 837-square-metre house and its 141-square-metre guest lodgings took a decade to complete. Handsmooth House, a reinvention of the country house, became the winner of the RIBA South East award and RIBA Regional Sustainability awards. Wetroom Materials not only supplied the 4K wetroom kit, but also installed the waterproofing to the rooms allowing the main contractor to provide their clients with a 10 Year No Leak Guarantee.

The new Costco warehouse in Farnborough is just one of 45 being built across the country by the leading wholesale giant as part of its UK expansion plans. A Sika Sarnafil waterproofing system has proved to be the perfect fit for the new 12,000sq m Costco warehouse. The size of the project and the quick installation time required resulted in the specification of the Sika Sarnafil S327-18EL membrane in Light Grey. Ideal for the job, the system is formulated for direct exposure to weather and is produced with integral polyester scrim reinforcement for high strength.

In July 2021, construction began on 242 new homes on land to the east of Coldean Lane, Brighton, bringing new affordable options to the area.A mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats in six blocks of five to seven storeys were detailed as part of the plans and made best use of the sloping 3.3-hectare site in which the development was to be situated.PMC Construction were contracted to undertake the works and through the project’s architects, HGP Architects, Sika was called upon to provide a waterproofing solution for the flats.

Sandbanks Court apartments are situated within the expensive up-market area of the Dorset coastal peninsular and enjoy spectacular panoramic views across the sea. A green roof system was selected for this project as the client required a roof that would complement and accommodate the step in levels to follow timber decking lines to the 55m² roof terrace areas. IKO Single Ply’s Spectraplan SM120 light grey single ply waterproofing system was overlaid to the existing roof and newly built sun rooms, ready to receive a green roof system.

A good example of the before and after effects of laying a sedum roof garden and accompanying deck and paved area onto a small domestic roof terrace. All these products are designed to sit on top of the waterproof membrane (in this case single ply) there was no issue of damage to the roof. The support pads lifted the decking off the roof, eliminating the risk of the timber piercing the membrane, and drainage was maintained through the roof surface since the green roof system has a cavity beneath its own reservoir and drainage layer to allow water run-off.

Our client was a major nursery stock grower in British Columbia with a very large sedum green roof project in Vancouver. The architect was concerned about future-proofing the green roof and wanted to ensure that, if ever they had issues with their waterproofing seal or any other aspect of the structure, the green roof could be taken up without too much disruption. It was decided that a modular solution would be the best route. M-Tray® was included in a worldwide competition to find the most suitable modular design and was judged as the best product available.

This project in Brixton required waterproofing on shop roofs and residential walkways, so a quick-curing system was a must to keep any disruption to a minimum for the business owners and residents.Specification – Systems UsedThe contractor was looking for a long-lasting and quick-curing system with an aesthetically pleasing and seamless finish – even on the most detailed areas.Therefore, we specified our OptiFlex-Rapid PMMA liquid waterproofing system to meet all of their requirements. OptiFlex-Rapid is our fastest curing liquid system with a typical curing time of just 20 minutes – ideal for projects with limited timescales. This system is cold-applied, reinforced with 150gsm matting and is suitable for year-round application.Build-up & Life ExpectancyThe build-up specified for this project consisted of our:Self-Adhesive PrimerSelf-Adhesive VCL (Vapour Control Layer)OptiFlex-Rapid Liquid Base Layer150gsm MattingOptiFlex-Rapid Liquid Top LayerOverall, the system is estimated to have a life expectancy in excess of 25 years.Challenges PresentedThe only challenge usually presented during an installation such as this would be the amount of roof detailing required. However, using a liquid system such as OptiFlex-Rapid made this process far easier, as it can be applied using a roller or brush for a durable and precise finish, particularly on detailed roofs.ResultsAs with all of our projects, our OptiTec Approved Contractors ensured a professional installation with fantastic results!

One of our latest projects was for a school in Barking, East London. The school required new waterproofing on their roof and chose OptiTec because we have a range of suitable products to choose from, offering excellent durability and longevity at a great price.Specification – Systems UsedFor this project, a long-lasting system was required with a Broof T4 fire classification for safety. Our technical team advised the OptiPlan-FB (PVC Single Ply) system for this project as it met the brief safety-wise, but it’s also excellent value for money over a large area.The OptiPlan-FB system is a fibreglass reinforced, fleece-backed synthetic waterproofing membrane made from premium quality PVC-P, offering exceptional resistance to weather and UV rays. A great benefit of this system is that it can be installed year-round due to having excellent flexibility in cold temperatures.This system was installed by an OptiTec Approved Contractor to ensure the highest quality of fitting with the option for a labour and materials guarantee if required.Challenges PresentedThere were no real challenges presented during installation and everything ran smoothly. We have a technical team on hand at all times to provide support and advice where required so we can always overcome any challenges presented in the best way possible.ResultsThe results of this project are fantastic and the client has expressed their satisfaction with the professional installation of the system and the overall finish.

wedi Primo completes luxury in central London Hotel.The Apex Temple Court Hotel is a luxury 4 star hotel, just off Fleet Street central London. Full architectural and interior design was by Ian Springford Architects, Edinburgh.A key factor in the selection of the wedi shower units for each of the 184 bedrooms was the requirement to achieve a high performance quality waterproof bespoke solution capable of adapting to the on site conditions. Ian Springford Architects has specified wedi shower units since 2004 and Apex Temple Court is the fourth Apex hotel where they have been successfully installed. Bespoke pre-fabricated shower units - Fast installation. The key benefits of using wedi were that the Fundo shower design provided simple, fast adaption to the individual shower configurations on site, as well as the detail of enabling the units to extend under the shower door to promote drainage back into the shower area from water falling off the door when in use.Complete prefabricated shower units allow fast dry and accurate construction in ONE integrated product system rather than a combination of different individual manufacturer’s products creating the risk of potential failures between the different systems during assembly and installation. The finished result was a fast track installation of a factory prepared shower system capable of on-site adjustment, delivering a completely waterproof system backed by warranty.

Wadham CollegeBauder Bakor 790-11 Hot Melt structural waterproofing system with BauderGREEN componentsSynopsisThe University of Oxford’s Wadham College graduate centre project was a complex refurbishment. Led by Lee Fitzgerald Architects and main contractor Feltham Construction it involved the careful restoration, adaptation and extension of the 1960’s grade II listed building.Bauder Building BoardProject:Wadham CollegeLocation:OxfordRoof Area:439m²Specifier:Lee Fitzgerald Architects​Main Contractor:Feltham ConstructionApproved Contractor:Deane Roofing & CladdingThe specification The brief for the project was to renovate the graduate centre and to link to the main college by creating a new entrance to the building. This led to the construction of a new building, the McCall MacBain Graduate Centre, which also now provides access to the Barbara Naylor rooftop gardens above the different reading, media and seminar rooms of the graduate centre. With the ageing existing waterproofing exceeding its life expectancy, the roof garden terrace was in need of a replacement roof system.As an accessible area which will experience a significant amount of foot traffic, the Bauder Hot Melt was determined to be the best solution for this roof. With a durability to match the expected life of the building and a self-healing system, the Bauder Bakor Hot Melt System is ideal for use on protected roofs such as inverted, paved, ballasted and terrace roofs.The resultApproved contractor Deane Roofing & Cladding carefully removed 439m² of the existing waterproofing, stripping the rooftop back to the concrete deck surface before installing the different layers of the Hot Melt system.The completed roof terrace now provides a modern and peaceful garden area where graduate students can relax and socialize between their work periods. Following several site visits by Bauder’s expert Site Technicians and a final leak test, a 20 year guarantee was issued for the roof terrace.System installed1 BauderPLANT E 42Green torch-on root-resistant capping sheet.2 790-11Hot melt rubberised bitumen asphalt with a percentage of post-consumer recycled materials that infills and fully bonds to all minor deviations in the deck.3 DeckPrimed concrete.

Fosroc contacted the designers of the Victoria Dock project in early 2013. Working with the design team Fosroc UK used its highly experienced sales and technical staff to produce a waterproofing solution using Supercast PVC waterstop and Supercast SW hydrophilic waterbar. Materials including special angles were hand made at our Tamworth manufacturing plant and passed the scrutiny of the Crossrail approvals team. To ensure watertight construction Fosroc provided on-site training on product installation. Materials used on C340 have since been passed for use on other rail projects.

Following the success of the Shoreline and Ocean hotels at Butlins’ Bognor Regis Resorts, the Butlins Wave Hotel is the newest addition, with the widest range of accommodation options. All three have been waterproofed by the Roofline Group. Cefil single-ply roofing membrane covers tapered insulation, with Fixfast tube washers and fasteners holding it all in place against the prevailing sea winds."We always get good service from you guys - that's the main reason we've stayed with you all these years"Bryan Lock - Project Manager at Roofline Group Ltd

The Gunnery, Kent is a unique and interesting project. Delta Membranes were appointed as Waterproofing Designer to transform an unused fort/home in Kingsdown, Kent. The building was situated 92ft on a cliff edge. The Gunnery was originally a military base with extended underground rooms and thought to have ‘secret rooms’ underground. The building had suffered from fire damage as well as vandalism over the years and had been left to ruin. During a site visit various considerations were given to what Delta product would be best suited to the job, given the restrictions imposed by the existing structure.

The original waterproofing on the Maternity Hospital roof had exceeded its serviceable life and begun experiencing water ingress, requiring urgent remedial work. Bristol City Council wanted to optimise the roof area by installing a high quality, long lasting PV array that would contribute to its Solar City scheme that aims to provide one gigawatt of solar power to Bristol by 2020. The installation needed to cause minimal disruption to ongoing work at the hospital and insulation upgrades were necessary to ensure the roof achieved the required 0.25 U-Value.

Sika Liquid Plastics produces a range of complete roof systems, and several options were utilised on MediaCityUK. Building C levels 6 and 7 have an inverted roof system with level 7 also having a Decothane Delta 25 warm roof system installed on the upstands. In addition the timber canopy on this level was waterproofed with Decothane Delta 25. Building B and the studios had an Inverted Roof System installed which includes a root resistant version of Decothane – Liquid Plastics market leading liquid applied roofing membrane.

Schlüter-Systems used its specialist technical knowledge and a number of key product solutions to minimise floor build-up and guarantee complete waterproofing provision in the refurbishment of one of Ireland’s most magnificent country houses. Set in 840 acres of grounds, Adare Manor was the subject of an 18-month-long renovation—its most extensive in 25 years. 40 new bedrooms have been added to this 19th century neo-gothic masterpiece as well as a host of new facilities; including a swimming pool, boardroom, cinema, spa and 350-capacity ballroom.

The new hospital was designed to combine a highly efficient clinical layout with a stunning external appearance. Set in beautifully landscaped grounds, it captures the essence of the original tuberculosis hospital that is today’s pioneering heart and lung treatment and transplant centre of excellence.The 40,000sqm hospital has 310 beds, six operating theatres and six catheterisation labs.Shield Membranes supplied materials for all external areas, including two of our BBA accredited ShieldTEC Hotmelt and ShieldSEAL Liquid Applied waterproofing systems as well as our ShieldBROWN living roof system.

In Clerkenwell, McLaren constructed a new office building with a basement to provide a total 97,000 sq ft of office space. McLaren utilized the existing basement structure which meant the exterior of the structure wasn't accessible. This meant that it was appropriate to use a cavity drain system. FIS worked closely with Henry Construction Projects and Veretec to provide a complete waterproofing service. Designing a system to fit around the existing structure was the challenge. FIS were able to advise on the correct installation process and provide regular quality control checks. Images courtesy of turnmillec1.co.uk.

A contractor client was working on a retro-fit balcony and flat roof project in Brighton. The waterproofing membrane had tapered insulation placed on top and the contractor discovered ballasting the insulation was needed, only once on the roof. The door thresholds were too tight for a traditional decking system with joists. Wallbarn advised for paving slabs on 9mm rubber pads; then 30mm thick ipe timber tiles mounted onto Adjustable Pedestals. The buildup was under 100mm and the overall finish of the tropical hardwood was glorious. The architect was relieved that we could produce a solution, the client was delighted.

This was a major refurbishment and landscaping project for an office development in the City of London. A podium deck had been re-waterproofed and the area landscaped, by contractor Scotscape, with a mixture of hard surfaces, grass lawns, planters and borders. Wallbarn has a very wide range of pedestals for a variety of applications. So we were able to supply exactly the right pad to best support the 6 x 2” joists the landscaping contractor needed to hold their decking boards. The timber joists were fixed into a frame and rigid insulation placed into the cavities between the beams.

Our Lady Star of the Sea is a historically significant 20th Century building designed by Guiseppe Rinvolucri. Time and the elements have caused so much damage that this Grade II Listed building could no longer serve as a house of prayer and worship The products used were Restoration Plaster White which cures to a bright white finish and "Restoration Plaster Coat", which creates a smoother but still breathable finish. Koster Polysil TG 500 a special salt blocking silicate polymer primer and Koster NB1 Grey, a waterproof sealing slurry that is effective against negative side water pressure.

Beechview Drive is a development by MD Constructions Ltd consisting of 8 brand new, luxury detached family houses set in a secure gated development. Each comprising 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, stunning kitchen diners and integral double garages. Licata Building Systems supplied full silicone render systems and clay brick slips systems for the facades of the houses. The combination of the two finishes created a modern style to the development. Full Licata waterproofing systems were used in the bathrooms of the properties and were also finished of with high quality premium Italian porcelain tiles supplied by Licata.

F. Ball’s high performance subfloor preparation and adhesive products have been used to renovate the floor of a 160m2 school hall at Christ Church CE Primary School in Kent. A combination of Stopgap 600 deep section base compound and Stopgap 200 Smooth acrylic floor smoothing underlayment was used over a Stopgap Waterproof Surface Membrane, firstly to build up the subfloor to the required thickness and then create a smooth, durable surface on which the final floorcovering could be laid. Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive was used to secure the vinyl Polyflor XL floorcovering to the finished subfloor...

Harris Academy Secondary School is a 6 form-entry secondary school in London. The project brief was developed with London Borough of Sutton and Harris Federation, together with multiple stakeholders and the surrounding community. Architype, a top London based architect, were asked to design a new school which could meet Passivhaus standard and also go on to meet BREEAM requirements. The requirement of this high quality development was the integration of environmental sustainability, user comfort and well-being. To meet these requirements they needed a high quality roof specification which could offer thermal insulation and a high performance waterproofing solution.

Sika Liquid Plastics has specified and supplied a roof upgrade solution for West Suffolk Hospital to renew the waterproofing membrane on multiple areas of the hospital campus and create a gradual pitch to aid drainage while enhancing the building’s thermal performance. Delivered by specialist contractor, Allard Construction, the phase four programme included seven sections of the building in a 20 week programme. The seven areas that needed work were all under heavy coverage of mechanical plant and pipework, and consequently there were large areas of restricted access, these issues made Sika Liquid Plastics the perfect choice for the project

Koster Aquatecnic were approached by the project architect to assist in a specification to renew the waterproofing to the roof of the large visitor cottages at the base of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.This lighthouse is situated at the most westerly point in the British Isles and as such is extremely exposed to the elements. A robust material and system had to be produced. This was a very challenging project and a great deal of assistance was provided including bespoke drawings, office and site meetings followed by leak testing services to ensure fully watertight.Please read through the case study and if you have any questions or would like advice on a similar project, please contact technical@kosteruk.com.

One of Cardiff city centre’s recent regeneration schemes, Capitol Quarter, required a multi storey car park to provide parking for the new office buildings within the development. To ensure the car park was protected and finished with the highest quality materials, the main contractor sought advice from Degafloor Ltd to ensure a suitable cost effective, high performance waterproofing system for the top deck, ramp and an inter deck area over occupied premises was specified. Following a full site visit and having assessed the client’s requirements in full, Degafloor specified the CP TD system with fleeced banding to substrate cracks and all upstands for the top deck, the CP HD system for the ramp and a fully fleeced CP TD for the area over occupied premises. Capital Quarter Multi-Storey Car Park Cardiff Why Degafloor Degafloor car park decking systems use highly advanced fast curing MMA chemistry to create flexible and incredibly durable systems that cure fully within just 1 hour of installation, even at temperatures as low as -10°C. They are completely waterproof, so guard against water ingress that could result in the decline of structures or damage to property (premises or vehicles). This combination of superior performance, skid resistance, rapid cure times and design flexibility, have contributed to the Degafloor range of car park decking systems becoming a popular choice for new build and refurbishment projects where speed and ease of installation, longevity and visual aesthetics are paramount.

Ghelamco Arena CHALLENGE Ghent’s football club, KAA Gent, had big ambitions – having a big stadium was one of them. Its brand new home was built in order to seat more spectators and take the club to the top of the Belgian league. As the first newly-built stadium in Belgium since 1974, the multi-use Ghelamco Arena opened its doors in 2013. The stadium hosts - besides KAA Gent matches - a multitude of events throughout the year, as well a gym, supermarket, office facilities and a Guide Michelin restaurant. It’s located near the historical centre of Ghent, just outside the city. The arena, which seats 20,000 supporters, is one of Europe’s most modern stadiums. A stadium specifically designed for the ultimate football experience! How could RENOLIT help make the new stadium a success?SOLUTION The Ghelamco Arena is a real eye-catcher: impressive, fashionable in design and an architectural beauty. The stadium, however, is more than just design, it is above all environmentally friendly. The stadium was constructed with considerations towards its ecological footprint and as a result, the roof was made waterproof by means of the ecological, reflective RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT waterproofing membrane. This completely white roofing membrane, together with the special protective coating on top of the membrane ensures a high reflection of the sunlight, which in summertime has a positive impact on the climate inside the building. With an initial reflection of 90%, the RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT concept can consider itself to be at the absolute top of the “cool roof” roofing membranes. 

Thames City is a spectacular location and presence in Zone One of the River Thames. With some of the city’s most breathtaking views, especially for those not afraid of heights, this is a fresh district featuring three residential towers, a development of 12 buildings, beautiful apartments with private luxury amenities, high-end retail, and fine dining venues.The overall experience of this amazing project is made even more appealing thanks to its network of interconnecting parks, cosy green courtyards, and romantic city squares.This project was complex, involving both TerraSmart Rail Paving and TerraSmart Pedestal Paving Systems. Both these systems are designed for waterproofed substrates with TerraSmart Rail being the ultimate raised paving system, unbelievably solid thanks to its unique lattice framework.Due to the height of the tower, we worked closely with Midgard Design Services to develop and install an appropriate wind uplift mitigation solution to keep the project within budget.The TerraSmart Rail Paving System was weighted using ballast weights, and installed in the joist frame to mitigate uplift – it couldn’t be fixed into the structural slab due to it being an inverted roof. The pavers were then mechanically fixed to the joists using a wind uplift visual fixing, which clamps down the entire system.The TerraSmart Pedestal Paving System was mechanically fixed to the structural slab as there was no waterproofing membrane to penetrate underneath. The wind uplift mechanical fixing was screwed into the top of the pedestals to retain the concrete pavers and prevent any movement in strong winds.The installation of the systems was beautifully done by ANC Construction and the proof is in the photos you see on our website.

Park Plaza London Park Royal provides tasteful accommodation for all guests whether you are travelling on business or a family getaway in west London. The modern, full-service hotel features 212 spacious guest rooms, four exemplary meeting rooms, a convenient on-site restaurant and a contemporary bar.In the development of this project, Licata Building Systems provided approved and certified systems consisting of high quality products. Licata waterproofing systems were used throughout the building, providing sustainable and effective solutions for the project. Licata resin flooring applied throughout public area of the hotel creating a modern and sleek environment throughout. 

Nearly 1000 metres of T-Pren gutter expansion joints were installed on the 28,000 sq.m. curved roof the Rocky Ridge recreational centre in Calgary, Canada. The wide curved gutter required long special lengths of T-Pren, 9-18m long, and were installed in pairs to provide double the expansion movement. T-Pren forms a waterproof expansion joint, which eliminates the standard step detail and so reduces the number of rainwater outlets required. T-Pren is a composite material made from neoprene and metal bonded under controlled factory conditions to ISO 9001 quality standards.

The Tate Modern’s Switch House is a new pyramid-shaped tower is built above the former power station’s subterranean oil tanks. The extension, which can be seen as you approach from the north, comprises ten floors that become incrementally smaller towards the top of the tower and culminates in a spectacular public roof terrace. Visitors to the roof are rewarded with 360-degree views of the river Thames, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London skyline, and you can see as far as Tower Bridge, the Old Bailey and Wembley Stadium.Radmat Building Products supplied a waterproofing solution to roof and viewing platform on the newly opened extension.