Basement & Foundation Tanking
Positive and negative side systems that hold back hydrostatic pressure in below-grade structures.
Services
Systems for every wet detail
From below the water table to the top of the parapet, we specify and install the barrier that suits the structure.
Roof & Deck Membranes
Liquid-applied and torch-on membranes for flat roofs, terraces, balconies and podium decks.
Leak Detection & Repair
Tracing active ingress and sealing it with epoxy and polyurethane resin injection.
Water Tanks & Swimming Pools
Potable-safe cementitious coatings for reservoirs, tanks, pools and wet areas.
Expansion Joint Sealing
Movement joint treatment for car parks, bridges and large-span concrete slabs.
Damp Proofing & Protective Coatings
Rising damp treatment, anti-carbonation and abrasion resistant floor coatings.
Industrial Flooring
High-performance epoxy and polyurethane floor systems for warehouses, factories, plants and heavy-traffic industrial environments.
The fundamentals
Why waterproofing matters
Water is the number one cause of building failure after structural issues. In swampy soil, hydrostatic pressure can push 10+ tons of water force per m² against walls. A correctly specified barrier is what keeps a structure standing dry.
Structural
Rebar corrosion, concrete spalling and foundation settlement.
Health
Mold, mildew and persistently damp walls.
Financial
Cracked tiles, peeling paint, damaged furniture and high maintenance costs.
Core principles
Three rules every system follows
01
Stop water at the positive side
Waterproof on the side where water comes from. Exterior is always better than interior.
02
Provide confinement + drainage
Materials like bentonite need soil pressure to work. All systems need drains to relieve pressure.
03
Address joints and penetrations
90% of leaks happen at wall-floor joints, pipes and cracks — not in the middle of a slab.
System types
Main types of waterproofing systems
A
Cementitious / Crystalline Systems
- Best for
- Basements, water tanks, bathrooms
- How it works
- Reactive chemicals grow crystals inside concrete pores to block water.
- Products
- Xypex, Penetron, Sika TopSeal 107
- Application
- Brush or spray 2 coats at 0.8–1.2 kg/m² per coat. Needs a damp surface to cure.
B
Bentonite Clay Systems
- Best for
- Foundations in swampy / high water table areas, ponds, landfills
- How it works
- Sodium bentonite swells 15× when wet to form an impermeable gel.
- Products
- Soil-bentonite mix, Bentonite panels/GCL, Bentonite-cement grout
- Application
- 8–12% slurry (80–120 kg per 1000L water) or 5–8% mixed into soil. Must be confined — cannot be used exposed.
C
Bituminous Membrane Systems
- Best for
- Roofs, podium slabs, wet areas
- How it works
- Torch-on or self-adhesive sheets create a continuous barrier.
- Products
- Torch-on membrane, self-adhesive sheets
- Application
- Prime surface, heat-weld 2 layers with 10cm overlaps.
D
Polyurethane / Acrylic Liquid Membranes
- Best for
- Roofs, balconies, complex shapes
- How it works
- Liquid applied, cures to a seamless rubber membrane.
- Products
- PU and acrylic liquid membranes
- Application
- 2–3 coats at 1.5–2 kg/m² total.
E
Injection Grouting
- Best for
- Active leaks, cracks, soil stabilization
- How it works
- Pump PU resin, cement-bentonite or epoxy into voids under pressure.
- Products
- PU resin, cement-bentonite, epoxy
- Application
- Bentonite-cement grout at a 1:6:1 ratio of bentonite : water : cement.
Specialty areas
Specialty areas in waterproofing
Below-grade waterproofing
Basements and retaining walls in swampy soil. Combines membrane + drainage board + perimeter drain.
Water-retaining structures
Tanks, pools and reservoirs. Uses crystalline + cementitious coating.
Roof waterproofing
Needs UV resistance plus movement accommodation.
Negative-side waterproofing
Interior fixes when exterior access is impossible. Uses crystalline or hydraulic cement.
Soil stabilization waterproofing
For swampy ground. A soil-bentonite-cement mix to both seal and gain strength.
What goes wrong
Common mistakes in Nigeria & West Africa
- 01
Skipping surface prep
Dust, laitance and dampness cause delamination.
- 02
No drainage
Waterproofing without drains means pressure buildup and failure.
- 03
Wrong material for the job
Using interior paint for exterior hydrostatic pressure.
- 04
Poor joint treatment
Forgetting waterstops at construction joints.
- 05
Wrong bentonite type
Using calcium bentonite instead of sodium bentonite for waterproofing.
Before you choose
Selection checklist
Ask these questions before choosing a system:
- ?
Where is the water coming from?
Rain, ground water, or plumbing?
- ?
Can you access the positive side?
Yes = membrane/bentonite. No = crystalline/injection.
- ?
Is the soil swampy or soft?
Yes = consider bentonite + cement + drainage.
- ?
What is the budget and lifespan needed?
5 years vs 50 years changes everything.