Waterproofing Inspections

The waterproofing inspection is considered one the most important inspection you can do. This is because if there are defects, water damage to your home can be very expensive to fix. This is particularly the case as it can take a long time before you notice there is a leak – by which time serious damage has been caused to your home.

Even worse, water damage causes damp, mould and rot that can have a serious health impact on you and your family.

The waterproofing inspection is very thorough. The purpose is to make sure that balconies and wet areas of your home – including ensuites, bathrooms, shower areas and laundries comply with Australian standards.

There are strict regulations when it comes to waterproofing. This includes the National Construction Code (NCC), which states that all wet areas be waterproofed in accordance with Australian Standard AS 3740 (Waterproofing of Domestic Wet Areas). In addition, balconies need to be waterproofed with Australian Standard AS 4654.1 (Waterproofing Membranes for External Above Ground Use).

The Purpose of Waterproofing Includes:

Waterproofing is the process of making wet areas resistant to water seaping into the structure of the building. This is usually done by using a paint on membrane.

It is this membrane that forms the water resistant layer and it must:

Be impermeable to water and provide continuous protection
Able to allow for any normal movement in wet area structures
Able to breathe so that moisture vapours can escape
Be durable and
Require little maintenance and be easily repaired if required
Be able to withstand environment conditions (especially lots of moisture)

Our Waterproofing Inspection Includes:

We check that the following parts of a shower have been correctly waterproofed:

• Full floor of the shower recess
• If the shower is enclosed, a minimum of 100 mm over the hob or step down onto the bathroom floor
• If the shower is not enclosed, within 1.5 metres horizontally from a point vertically below the shower fitting
• Walls inside the shower up to at least 150 mm
• Junction between the floor and the wall
• Junction between the wall and the fixture

Other areas that need to be waterproofed:

• If the bathroom floor is made from timber, plywood or particle board, the entire area must be waterproofed. This also applies to all bathrooms above the ground floor
• Behind the bath, trough or sink

We also check to ensure that tiles will be on fibre reinforced cement sheeting or moisture resistant plasterboard,

If waterproofing is not done properly the following problems can occur:

• Rotting timber and corrosion of metals in the structure of the home
• Electrical hazards
• Blistering paint, plasterboard swelling and ceramic tiles falling off
• Rotting carpet