Shielding Your Home From the Elements: 3 Types of Exterior Waterproofing Products
Protecting your home from water damage is crucial. Rain, snow, and humidity can all wreak havoc on buildings, leading to costly repairs and structural issues.
Exterior waterproofing paints and products can shield your home against the elements, ensuring your home stays dry and damage-free. Waterproofing will preserve the appearance of your home. More importantly, it will bolster its structural integrity and protect it against moisture intrusion and its attendant consequences.
There are various products you can use to make exterior surfaces proof against moisture intrusion. These include acrylic waterproofers, silicon-based sealants, and cementitious waterproofers.
- Acrylic Waterproofers
Acrylic waterproofers are liquid coating solutions. They have excellent adhesion, so they work with various substrates such as concrete, masonry, stucco, and wood. They are also easy to source, are relatively inexpensive and – when properly installed and cured – have an adequate lifespan.
Acrylic waterproofing systems typically include a primer and at least two top coats. Although acrylic waterproofing paints apply as a liquid, they dry into a flexible yet durable rubbery membrane that sits on surfaces to prevent water ingress while allowing the structure to breathe.
This one-piece, jointless, and seamless waterproofing membrane prevents water from getting in but also minimizes the risk of moisture getting trapped and causing moisture damage. It is resistant to cracking and peeling even under ultraviolet light exposure and fluctuating temperature conditions. This resilience makes acrylic waterproofers suitable for structures exposed to wide-ranging weather conditions.
Acrylic waterproofing is particularly advantageous for its ease of application and maintenance. It can be rolled, brushed, sprayed, and trowelled on surfaces and is accessible to both professionals and do-it-yourselfers.
Acrylic waterproofers come in various colors and finishes, allowing for customization to match or enhance the exterior design. It’s ideal for residential homes, commercial buildings, and any structure requiring enhanced moisture resistance without compromising aesthetic appeal.
That said, use acrylic waterproofers only in areas with excellent drainage. If you’re using them on your roof, make sure water does not pool and remain for 48 hours on the acrylic-coated surface. Consider other waterproofing options for areas with prolonged contact with standing water, such as foundations and below-grade surfaces.
- Silicone-Based Waterproofers
Silane and siloxane are silicone-based water-repelling sealants designed to penetrate substrates. Upon application, they go into the moisture-absorbing pores of the substrate, forming a water-repelling resin that sits inside the pores and on the substrate surface.
Silane and siloxane sealers make exterior surfaces hydrophobic while allowing moisture to escape, ensuring the structure can breathe. They also do not significantly alter the appearance of the substrate.
That said, if you’re planning to use silicone-based sealant, you may want to choose a color-matched variant. Otherwise, you will have a challenging time painting over your water-repelling surface. It can be done, but it requires extra prepping. Additionally, you don’t want to negate the breathability of silane and siloxane-sealed structures by painting over them.
Silanes have smaller molecules than siloxanes. They can penetrate deeply into dense materials, so they work great for pre-cast and poured-in-place concrete. However, they require calcium hydroxide to form water-repelling resin. Therefore, you can only use silanes on substrates like concrete and masonry.
Meanwhile, siloxanes have larger molecular structures, making them better suited for less dense materials. You can use them on medium-porosity materials such as concrete blocks. Furthermore, since they don’t require a reaction with calcium hydroxide to form a hydrophobic seal, you can use them with non-cementitious substrates, including stucco, bricks and stone.
Silane and siloxane sealants are applied through spraying or brushing. Preparation is minimal, requiring only a clean, dry substrate for optimal bonding and performance.
- Cementitious Waterproofers
Cementitious waterproofers are breathable solutions designed for concrete and masonry surfaces. Use positive-side waterproofing on exterior surfaces.
Cementitious waterproofing coatings are easy to apply and widely accessible. Application is typically done with a long-handled brush, making it manageable for professionals and DIY enthusiasts. They provide a uniform, seamless barrier that protects against moisture intrusion.
They are durable because they can resist abrasion, chemicals, and extreme weather conditions and help prevent concrete cancer and spalling. Since they can bond with porous and non-porous surfaces, they can be applied across a diverse range of substrates, increasing their applicability.
Cementitious waterproofers will work great even on below-grade surfaces and other places where water tends to pool. However, they are inflexible. You can’t apply them to surfaces expected to experience significant thermal expansion and contraction or on structures built in areas where settlement is expected. Cementitious waterproofers must remain crack-free to ensure their integrity as a waterproofing coating.
Waterproof Your Home
Exterior surfaces need to be waterproofed to prevent water from seeping through their pores and penetrating your home interior. However, waterproofing agents must allow moisture to evaporate and your structure to breathe.
Exterior waterproofing products include silanes, siloxanes, acrylic waterproofers, and cementitious coatings. Every one of these has different characteristics and mechanisms of action. What will work for a beach house may not work for a villa in a valley. Additionally, different materials and distinct parts of your home may require varying solutions. Consult a professional to learn which waterproofing options to use (and where) for your home.
