Waterproofing in Vélez-Málaga and across the province

What's included

• Locating the source of damp or leaks
• Waterproofing roofs and terraces
• Treating rising damp
• Certified systems with a guarantee
• Sealing joints and cracks

METHODS

How we waterproof each surface

There is no single treatment valid for all damp: each surface and each cause calls for a different system. These are the jobs we carry out most often.

Flat roofs

Flat roofs may be walkable or non-walkable, and the choice of system depends on the use. After checking the falls, drains and junctions with walls, a continuous waterproofing system is applied: asphalt or synthetic membranes (PVC, TPO, EPDM) welded or bonded, or a liquid membrane applied in situ that forms a jointless layer. On walkable roofs it is protected with paving or a protective layer. Before waterproofing, any unevenness that holds water is corrected, because standing water shortens the life of any system.

Pitched roofs and tiled roofs

On tiled roofs the problem is usually shifted or broken tiles, valleys, blocked gutters and flashings against walls. The whole roof is inspected, tiles are replaced or re-seated, flashings are sealed or replaced and, if needed, an under-tile membrane is fitted as a second barrier. It is work at height: it is carried out with protection measures and coordination with the community when the roof is shared.

Terraces and balconies

This is the most common job on the coast. If the paving is in good condition and the problem is the sealing, a walkable membrane is sometimes enough; if there are loose tiles, leaks from below or a damaged base, the paving is lifted, repaired and the base waterproofed with an elastomeric liquid membrane reinforced with mesh at corners and junctions. Drains are treated, expansion joints redone and the paving laid again with flexible adhesive. Before closing up, a watertightness test is done by flooding the surface for a while to check there are no leaks.

Rising damp

When water rises from the ground through the pores of the wall, painting is not enough. The rise is cut or reduced with a barrier, for example by injecting water-repellent products into holes along the wall, the salt-laden render is stripped and a breathable renovating mortar is applied with a breathable finish as well. The wall needs time to dry. You can see the full diagnosis in our guide on rising damp and salt damp.

Basement and retaining walls

If the wall is in contact with the ground, the ideal is to waterproof from the outside with a membrane and perimeter drainage. When excavation is not possible, we work from the inside with specific cementitious mortars that resist water pressure, and we study evacuation with a sump or pumping system if there is continuous inflow.

Bathrooms, showers and wet areas

In a bathroom the waterproofing goes under the tiling: a membrane on the floor and on the shower walls, with reinforcing tape at corners, drains and junctions. It is an essential part of our bathroom renovations, and a shower that leaks into the home below can also be treated.

Façades, cracks and balconies with rusted reinforcement

Façade cracks are treated with elastic sealants and coatings that withstand sun and rain. On balconies, if the reinforcing steel is rusted, the concrete is cleaned out, the metal treated and repaired before waterproofing; otherwise the corrosion keeps pushing the concrete from inside.

MATERIALS AND REGULATIONS

Systems, materials and regulations

Choosing the wrong material is one of the most common reasons waterproofing fails. The systems we use are:

• Asphalt or synthetic membranes (PVC, TPO, EPDM): resistant and long-lasting on roofs, with welded or bonded joints.
• Liquid membranes (polyurethane, elastomeric acrylic): continuous and jointless, very suitable for terraces and complex junctions.
• Waterproof cementitious mortars: common on basement walls, tanks and wet areas.
• Injection water-repellents and renovating mortars: for rising damp and walls with salts.
• Elastic sealants for joints and cracks.

As for regulations, the Spanish Technical Building Code (basic document on health, DB-HS 1) governs protection against damp in roofs, walls and floors in contact with the ground. Products must have their technical data sheets and, where applicable, CE marking, and are applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the work affects the roof or façade of a building in a community, it requires the owners' agreement and, at height, occupational safety measures.

COSTA DEL SOL AND AXARQUÍA

Local challenges on the Costa del Sol and the Axarquía

The Costa del Sol and the Axarquía put any waterproofing to the test:

• Intense sun. Radiation dries out and cracks terrace membranes and paints over the years; systems with good UV resistance are chosen.
• Heavy autumn rain. After months of sun, heavy rain saturates drains and finds any weak point. Terraces are best checked and cleaned before autumn.
• Salt and sea air. Near the sea, salts damage joints, reinforcement and coatings, and rising damp on ground floors is common.
• Wind. The levante and terral winds shift tiles and force water in through flashings and windows.
• Homes closed for months. A leak in a second home can cause major damage before anyone sees it.
• Buildings from the 1970s and 1980s. Many terraces and roofs have gone decades without renewing their waterproofing.

For the initial diagnosis, see our guide on how to find the source of a leak. If you are also renovating, see bathroom renovations and bricklaying. We work in Vélez-Málaga, Torre del Mar, Nerja and across the rest of the province.

Related guides

• Rising damp and salt damp on the Costa del Sol
• How to find the source of a leak