Here at Scientific Waterproofing Products, we are the experts in applying high-quality waterproofing products to commercial and residential jobs of all shapes and sizes.
Waterproofing is an extremely important part of protecting your building from the damage that excess water can inflict. That’s why our products are designed to ensure the integrity of your walls, floors, ceilings and substrates for many years to come.
To give you a better understanding of how these can be applied, we’ve put together a short case study in which our products were used to repair and waterproof the 63-yr-old moat that surrounds the Shine Dome in Canberra, all while battling the elements and ensuring we met the unique needs of this one-of-a-kind building.
Getting to work at Canberra’s Shine Dome
Earlier this year, we were commissioned to supply and install a flexible and fully submersible waterproofing membrane in the concrete moat that surrounds the Shine Dome. Completed in 1959, this unique structure is home to the Australian Academy of Science and is a historical landmark in Canberra.
The moat that runs around the building covers the foundations of the roof’s 16 pillars to provide the appearance of a floating dome canopy, making it a key feature of the building’s architecture.
As part of the brief, we were required to apply a waterproof membrane into the moat with the following characteristics:
- UV stable
- Able to withstand abrasion during cleaning
- Non-toxic – as ducks often swim in the water
- Consistent texture and colour throughout
- Sufficiently flexible to accommodate the movement caused by seasonal temperature changes
Additionally, the age of the building meant that the concrete substrate required repairs to be completed so it could be declared structurally sound before waterproofing could take place.
Repairing and waterproofing the Shine Dome moat
To begin, the moat was drained, and the concrete substrate was repaired where necessary using Drizoro Maxgrout – a single component, non-shrink, waterproof mortar that’s formulated using special cements and well-graded mineral products to provide high mechanical strength and fluidity. It also contains no chlorides or metal particles and comes in a simple powder form, ready to mix with water.
Once the Drizoro Maxgrout was cured and the substrate was structurally repaired, it was time to apply the waterproof membrane.
However, due to the substantial amounts of rain that the region was experiencing and our extremely tight deadline, we were unable to wait for the concrete to properly dry out before waterproofing.
For this reason, we proceeded to waterproof the moat with two coats of Drizoro Maxseal Flex – a flexible cement-based waterproofing membrane that can only be applied to wet surfaces.
Drizoro Maxseal Flex can withstand up to 9 bar (90m) positive and 4 bar (40m) negative hydrostatic pressure, meaning it will keep the substrate protected even in the harshest conditions. It also meets AS 4020 standards, meaning it is drinking water safe and duck friendly.
Once waterproofing was complete, we then applied a single coat of Drizoro Maxurethane 2C – a two-component aliphatic polyurethane coating that’s non-toxic, fully submersible, provides a strong and flexible resistance to abrasion once polymerised, and is highly resistant to weathering and UV rays.
Applying the Drizoro Maxurethane 2C also helped to ensure a consistent colour and texture throughout the entire moat.
The right waterproofing products will protect your building for years to come
Effective waterproofing involves using only the best products to ensure that your commercial building or family home is safe from the dangers of water damage and structural decay.
Of course, if you’d like further guidance on the best waterproofing products to use on your property, speak to your local Australian waterproofing specialists.
Get the right waterproofing solutions for your next job – no matter the size
At Scientific Waterproofing Products, our team is here to provide you with the right waterproofing for your unique situation. We offer a wide range of Drizoro cement-based waterproof coatings for all of your maintenance and restoration requirements.
If you’ve got any questions or issues around your next waterproofing job, or you’d like to find out which product is best for your needs, contact us today! You can also check out a list of local Drizoro resellers and applicators here.
As always, SWP is committed to providing the right waterproofing solution for any water-related problem or application.