Exterior vs Interior Commercial Waterproofing: Ultimate Guide 2022
Being a business owner isn’t just about the business itself. It’s also about the employees that you hired to work with you. It’s about the location where you decided to open up the business. And it’s about the building in which you have built upon the future of your dreams as an entrepreneur. All of these are important aspects to run a successful business. But today we will focus on the latter and talk about how to protect the commercial building where you have set up space for the growth of your company and know what the advantages and disadvantages of exterior and interior waterproofing in Sydney bring to the table.
But first, you might ask “What is waterproofing?”. To put it simply, it is what the name says it is and is the safest and biggest investment that any business owner can do. It is a process starting when waterproofing contractors come and inspect your commercial building and identify probable spots for concern or interest and assess which waterproofing method or service will be the most effective way in protecting the commercial or residential building from any water-based structural damage. This should be a top priority service for any business owners who are located where there are heavy rainfalls, blinding snowstorms, or excessive snow melts because these are some of the biggest contributors to structural damage to commercial buildings.
Now that we have that figured out, let us now discuss what is external waterproofing and its internal counterpart. What makes them different? What are the other factors that can affect your decision? And many more.
What is Exterior Waterproofing?
Exterior waterproofing can be seen as the primary defense that your commercial building has against the raging elements outside. Parts of the exterior commercial waterproofing system are the downspouts and gutters that are located at the sides of buildings that let water flow down and not accumulate at the roof and take water away from the building so that it might not damage it. And by using an exterior waterproof membrane fixed and installed at the foundation of the building, waterproofing contractors can make sure that not a drop of water can enter the walls through any of the small cracks and crevasses that can be found and not seep into the basement walls.
What Is Interior Waterproofing?
Interior waterproofing on the other hand is the process of re-routing any leaks from the basement walls away from the building. The interior basement waterproofing systems are made out of multiple pipes and drain that will catch any water leaks and carry it back out or are used to collect and take away from the foundation any excess groundwater that may have been absorbed by the foundation through time.
Where Is It Installed?
Usually, an exterior waterproof membrane is installed or applied at the foundation of the building or at the exterior walls around the foundation to prevent any water from seeping into the basement and causing even more damage to it. And if needs be, a sump pump can be installed to redirect the water away from the foundation wall.
Interior waterproofing on the other hand is installed within the building itself for any water that found its way inside the walls or basement to be whisked away by using drainage systems to a sump pit where a sump pump is used to propel the water far away from your basement wall.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Exterior vs Interior Waterproofing
If you’re a commercial business owner or even a regular everyday homeowner and are in the market for having your building waterproofed but are unsure whether exterior or interior waterproofing is for you then this quick and easy list of factors will be your best friend. Below are some of the more common factors that can affect a building owner’s decision on which service will be the most ideal for their needs.
Excavation Area Around Your Basement
It comes as no surprise that when installing commercial waterproofing systems, for the most part, areas around the foundation of the building must be excavated, especially the area around the basement. This must be done to expose the basement walls and be able to apply an even layer of an exterior waterproof membrane for water to not seep into the walls and keep your foundation wall and basement floor dry as a bone.
Full Moisture Protection
By using an interior drainage system you can make sure that no water that has seeped into the small cracks inside the walls cannot further damage the basement wall and will keep your basement dry.
Use of Your Basement
Again, this should be expected. Waterproofing contractors will be using almost all the space within your basement, either preparing it for applying an even coat of interior waterproofing membrane or installing interior basement waterproofing systems to keep groundwater away from your basement and cause structural damage.
Invasiveness of the Project
Due to the nature of the project itself, it should be no surprise that you should expect a couple of people coming and going in and out of your building or house, especially if you chose to do some basement waterproofing and the only way into the basement is going inside the building. But you don’t need to worry about a thing because if you hire some truly professional waterproofing contractors then they will respect your privacy as they work on the basement wall.
How Long the Waterproofing Will Last
A typical waterproofing job, if done well and correctly, can last you years before needing to reapply a new coat to help reinforce the membrane. But it’s one of the best investments a business owner can do for the safety of their employees. And a few years of not worrying about any structural damages in your building and potential mold growth due to the moisture within the walls.
Interior vs Exterior Waterproofing Cost
With exterior waterproofing costing more due to its nature of requiring a lot more work to be done and materials to be used by the waterproofing contractors, it can cost you around $1 to $7 per square foot and average about $700 to $7,000 per unit but it will be very worth it having your basement walls protected and not be absorbing water from the outside world. That also depends on which method the contractors had to use for your exterior basement waterproofing
Unlike its external counterpart, internal waterproofing is a bit cheaper with it averaging about $3 – $10 per square foot and that can average around $600 – $6000 depending on how big the unit is. The price can also depend on which method the contractors will use to do the job properly.
Interior vs Exterior Waterproofing Advantages
Unlike other waterproofing options which can be seen as just a band-aid for a much bigger problem, exterior waterproofing is the best solution you can have for your building’s protection against outside elements that can threaten its structural integrity. Not just that it builds upon the original construction and just reinforces it to be more suitable to face anything Mother Nature has to offer.
Interior waterproofing is amazing for repairing or mitigating damages caused by poor drainage systems that caused water accumulation to happen in your once-dry basement. With this, you can be sure your building can be safe from further effects of water damage due to the accumulated moisture.
Interior vs Exterior Waterproofing Disadvantages
Due to the labor-intensive nature of exterior waterproofing, with all the excavating work needing to be done to be able to apply the external waterproof membrane, it can and will be an expensive endeavor but is worthwhile to keep your basements dry.
But as nice as keeping water from the groundwater affecting the foundation walls, interior waterproofing is only effective in removing any accumulated water in the basement from a horrible drainage system in the past.
Interior vs Exterior Waterproofing Methods
Interior Waterproofing
Crack Injection
Also known as Crack Repair, is a method of waterproofing where crackers are filled with a waterproofing membrane to prevent penetration of water or moisture through the small cracks that have been caused by some poor drainage in the past.
Interior Drain Tile
This is an interior waterproofing system that can prevent moisture accumulation on the soil that is under the foundation of your building.
Exterior Waterproofing
Crack Repair
This method is used to fix and seal any cracks found in the foundation wall where moisture can enter the building without you noticing. These cracks usually show where the building has the least resistance to the outside world.
Exterior Waterproofing Membrane with Drain Tile
With this method, not only are you getting a coating of exterior waterproofing membrane applied but also getting a drain pipe put in to help intercept and drain direct water and keep your basement dry.
How Can GJK Waterproofing Help You With Interior and Exterior Waterproofing?
With our team of expert waterproofing contractors with over 10+ years of experience, we are sure to be able to handle all of your waterproofing needs. May they be as small but significant as patching up some leaks in your commercial buildings, or as grandiose as having your entire commercial building resist the very elements that rage outside. Know that GJK Waterproofing Services is here to help.
Interior vs Exterior Waterproofing: Which is Better
It entirely depends on the customer to choose depending on their needs and the situation they find themselves in. Exterior waterproofing is great for keeping water out of the building and thus totally preventing moisture from getting into the walls, preventing any mold or bacteria growth, and keeping their basement dry.
Interior waterproofing is amazing for protecting the insides of the building from already suspected water-compromised walls and redirecting the water away from the building, especially with interior basement waterproofing from water that comes from the ground.
But if you’re still not sure which one to pick then it’s best to call in the professionals at GJK Waterproofing Services where we will do all the heavy lifting for you.
FAQ
Is Interior Or Outdoor Waterproofing Better?
Depending on the situation that you might find yourself in, either of the ones can be the best fit for you.
Should I Waterproof My Basement From The Inside Or Outside?
If you are worried that water has already seeped its way into the walls or floor of your basement, then interior waterproofing is the best for you. But if you want to prevent moisture from entering your basement, external waterproofing will be your best bet.
What Are the Characteristics Of Good Waterproofing Material?
Some good characteristics waterproofing materials should have are flexibility, water-tightness, UV radiation resistance, strong bonding strength, and most of all, cost-effectiveness.
Why Should Basements Be Waterproofed From The Outside?
To properly keep direct rainwater away from the basement and to avoid getting a wet basement that can lead to severe damage to your building, or prevent basement moisture accumulation which can lead to hazardous mold growths.
How Thick Should Waterproofing Membrane Be?
A good waterproofing membrane should be as thick as 2 – 4 mm. Any less than that and it would be ineffective.
