From slab to roof, Build in stages.


From slab to roof, Build in stages.



From slab to roof


Hello friends, welcome to my blog; Today I want to answer a question that I am always asked in my profession, which is that due to the heavy rains in my region, people have filtration problems, especially in concrete slabs.



Serious corrosion problems due to leaks in the slab.


And it is that, by leaving the slab as a ceiling, a serious mistake is made; the slab is not a ceiling, and when it has to be left as a ceiling, most of the slabs have leaks, precisely because it is a structural element and it is not prepared to be left as a roof, that is what roofs are for.



Slab or plate to be treated and conditioned to avoid progressive damage over time until you decide to advance to higher levels


But how to make a slab waterproof, and it is what is usually done on terraces, I clarify there are many ways to do it, but I am going to suggest one that gives very good results and works well.


The first thing we would do to waterproof it is to build a perimeter wall, about 25 cm approximately; secondly, locate one or several downloads, we are going to model it in the center, for example, you can choose any place that meets the needs that are required, sometimes the center will suit you, others on the corners and it all depends on the architecture of the structure and of the slab you have.



Placement of a perimeter wall and its downloads


A third step is to waterproof everything with an asphalt paint, the entire surface is painted, including the most remote faces that may exist, if it is not done there, the humidity will pass easily.



Asphaltic paint coating on all internal surfaces.


The fourth step is to cover the surface with a waterproof blanket, with a geotextile membrane, it is not the membrane that we all know that has aluminum on one side, but it is a membrane that contains fiber inside and is much more resistant than an ordinary membrane. that we use to cover a roof, for example, you should look for the one that is specific for terraces.



Ssphalt blanket with membrane


Once this is done, you must do a hydraulic test, covering the entire surface with water, this implies that you must cover the discharges or discharge mouths; and leave it for 48 hours, if in 48 hours there are no leaks then we can continue.



Tightness test, it is important to guarantee the work.


The fifth step is to place a layer of thermal insulation that could be expanded polystyrene, very hard at least 30 kg per cubic meter, it had to be very very hard, then we are going to make a counter slab that has slopes, slopes towards the mouth ; the minimum slope to use is one centimeter per meter, if they were 3 meters, for example, you need to have a minimum of 3 cm in the highest part, with 3 cm per meter the water flows or drains very well.



Laying of high-density expanded polystyrene



Care must be taken in the termination with the grid so as not to have problems later on.


As a sixth step, add a waterproof folder, with waterproof cement and everything is waterproofed, in those lines that you see here you are going to make expansion joints, these joints are used so that the subfloor can move freely and does not cause any type of fissure .



Expansion joints


The joint is filled with Sikaflex, and it works very well, which is used for terraces, it resists high temperatures; then you place the grid and make sure there are no leaks there, and the crockery is practically waterproofed, this of course has an additional cost and the day you build it up you will have to remove it and eliminate it.


In which it is an expense that you will not recover in the future, then you will have to consider continuing with the structure until roofing or making this investment so that the slab is completely waterproof.


I hope the information is useful when making a decision, do not forget to support me and we will read next time, bye.


All images including schematics, photos and models are mine







0
0
0.000
8 comments
avatar

Undoubtedly, an excellent explanation, very useful and necessary. Roof damage from leaks is very common. Thank you for your publication @jhonnygo

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you for taking an interest in my publication! I hope it helps you sometime...

Greetings.

0
0
0.000
avatar
Thank you for sharing this amazing post on HIVE!
  • Your content got selected by our fellow curator @priyanarc & you just received a little thank you via an upvote from our non-profit curation initiative!

  • You will be featured in one of our recurring curation compilations and on our pinterest boards! Both are aiming to offer you a stage to widen your audience within and outside of the DIY scene of hive.

Join the official DIYHub community on HIVE and show us more of your amazing work and feel free to connect with us and other DIYers via our discord server: https://discord.gg/mY5uCfQ !

If you want to support our goal to motivate other DIY/art/music/homesteading/... creators just delegate to us and earn 100% of your curation rewards!

Stay creative & hive on!
0
0
0.000
avatar

Indeed, leaving slabs as ceilings has been a common practice I've witnessed in many establishments around the world. They say that this construction method saves on costs and aligns with the intention of creating an industrial style (exposed utilities like aircon, electrical, and plumbing devices) of interior design. 😊

Nevertheless, waterproofing procedures must be applied to these slabs to prevent water leakages plus ensure the long term life of the concrete material. Thank you for your valuable tips on this educational post. 👍😊

0
0
0.000
avatar

That's right, I imagine what you describe; many take concrete as something indestructible, but the consequences are serious.

In fact, all material degrades, some faster than others, so the necessary measures must be taken to protect it.

Thank you very much for everything...

0
0
0.000