Sealing water punctures

Sealing water punctures

Concrete walls are basically watertight. In practice, however, it still turns out, that leaks appear as a result of careless concreting due to aggregate cavities in the concrete or working gaps. Especially under the pressure of water, not only wet stains appear on the concrete surface, but even larger amounts of water. Such a place is called a water breakthrough. The effect of moisture or water puncture is not only the formation of a disfiguring stain in this place. The salts contained in the water crystallize on the wall surface, creating efflorescence and causing permanent concrete failure. We can deal with it this way, that we make a hole in the place where water is present and seal it with a quickly hardening mortar (instant hardener). We forge the hole in the shape of a dovetail, so that the sealing compound can get stuck in the wall. The instant hardener is watertight. It is supplied in the form of a gray cement-like powder and is mixed with water until it is plastic. The mortar should be applied and processed quickly and continuously, because the binding starts one minute after adding water. Hand (remember to wear protective gloves) or a trowel (as a stopper) the mass is pressed for two minutes
in the sealed area. After approx. 2-3 minutes from the start of setting, the instant hardener becomes hard. It protects against water pressure and seals the wall.