WHAT IS WATERPROOFING?

Human nature has always sought to protect itself from atmospheric conditions.

It is clear that caves were good shelters in prehistoric conditions for protection from both cold and severe storms. To prevent the adverse effects of rain and storms, people sought shelter from rainwater, first in caves and later in the first tents. Water insulation first appears as a necessity to protect against rainwater. This need led to hiding in caves and between rocks, and later to the emergence of the concept of tents and thus roofs. The water to be avoided comes from above. However, over time, with technological developments in structures, the direction and conditions of the water to be avoided also change. Now, not only water from the clouds but also groundwater can damage the buildings we live in.

The transition from nomadic life to settled life has greatly contributed to this process. When humans grew tired of roaming continents with their tents and felt the need to settle in lands where they could put down roots, the need to extend building foundations deep into the soil, like their own roots, arose. Now, water had to be dealt with from below as well.

For buildings to be long-lasting, comfortable, and healthy, they must be properly designed, constructed, and protected against external factors that can cause damage. One of the most important factors affecting buildings is water.

Buildings:

• Precipitation such as rain and snow,
• Soil moisture and rainwater or used water absorbed by the soil,
• Water use in wet areas such as bathrooms and toilets,
• Pressurized or non-pressurized groundwater in the soil on which the structure is built
• Are exposed to water due to condensation of water vapor from inside the building on external surfaces such as roofs and facades.

While it is impossible to prevent water from threatening the structure and comfort through the ways mentioned above, it is possible to prevent water from entering buildings. The processes performed on the surface of the building envelope to protect structures against water or moisture from all directions are called "water insulation."

The biggest threat to building life and durability is "water." Water that seeps into the structure causes corrosion of the reinforcements in the load-bearing parts of buildings, leading to a reduction in their cross-sections and a significant decrease in their load-bearing capacity. Additionally, water within the building component freezes in cold seasons and evaporates in hot seasons, causing the concrete integrity to deteriorate and cracks to form. Furthermore, sulfates in soil moisture or groundwater react chemically with the foundation concrete, causing the concrete composition to deteriorate. This negatively affects the building's lifespan and strength. Water also leads to the formation of organic substances such as mold and fungi, which are harmful to human health in buildings.

Water insulation is done to protect above-ground building elements from the harmful effects of rainwater and acidic atmospheric gases, and below-ground building elements from the harmful effects of groundwater and moisture. For effective water insulation, the insulation application should cover all building elements from the foundation to the roof. Ground-level floors, balconies, exterior walls, roofs, and foundation walls are subject to insulation.

After two major earthquakes in 1999, new concepts such as the Richter scale, tsunami, and soil survey entered our lives. Corrosion was one of these concepts. The reason for the collapse of many structures during the earthquake was corrosion, or rusting. The cause of corrosion was the lack of water insulation. Unfortunately, the necessity of insulating structures against water has not yet been fully understood, even after such a bitter experience.

The greatest impact of water on structures is related to building lifespan and safety. This demonstrates that water insulation is of vital importance.

Source: http://www.bituder.org/membran.htm