Waterproofing Basics

Concrete contractors are always looking for ways to make their businesses more profitable. Beyond cutting costs and increasing revenue from the services they offer now, finding additional profit centers by adding new services can be a good way to grow the business. One service that might be a good fit for contractors who install foundation walls and basements is waterproofing. While some building codes require waterproofing, the benefits it provides in protecting against water intrusion apply anywhere.

Why waterproofing makes sense
Since the concrete contractor is at the jobsite in the early days of construction, finding a way to stay there longer and make more money is logical. That's why Stephens & Smith Construction got into the waterproofing business with Epro Waterproofing Systems' products. "It was kind of part of our long term business plan to do the complete turnkey package for the builder and homeowner," explains Vice President Brett Richert. "So this way the builder could get the whole front end of the job from one company instead of calling five or six. It was a natural add-on service to something that we already do. Waterproofing ties into the poured foundation part of our business. It's not like we were becoming drywallers or roofers or something that was not concrete related."

Tri-State Concrete Construction, Inc., which uses Mar-Flex Waterproofing and Basement Products, found that it could earn more money by performing waterproofing itself than by hiring subcontractors. Tri-State stopped employing subs to do dampproofing because the management felt waterproofing was superior and doing it in-house would get them more business. "I felt the market might be getting a little bit slower, so we were trying to do more of our own work instead of subbing it out," notes owner Kevin Wernimont.

Keeping builders happy was the motivation for Mar-Flex user Excel Concrete Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind. "The builders want you to waterproof the foundations when you get done with the basement, so we started doing it," says owner Don Greemann.

Getting started
There are two basic types of waterproofing materials: sheet membranes and sprays, including polymers and elastomeric. A contractor will typically use only one of these waterproofing systems. In deciding between them, contractors need to consider the initial cost of the equipment required to do the work and how long it will take to learn excellent waterproofing techniques.

The up front costs for installing sheet membranes are negligible, according to Ron Kazemi of Kazemi & Associates, who uses ProtectoWrap products. The only special equipment he bought was a linoleum roller, which costs about $50 today. This roller is used to install the membrane by pressing it firmly against the concrete wall. An angle grinder is also needed to smooth and clean the wall during the preparation process to remove any protrusions from the concrete, but this is a tool most concrete contractors already own. Other equipment includes roller covers, brushes, knives and scrapers, which he had on hand as part of his normal concrete work.

Getting started with sprayed-on waterproofing is more costly, but still reasonable. "We bought a cube van," Richert recalls. "We put a bulk tank inside it with the spray rig, hoses and nozzles." They also purchased ladders to get down into the excavation and personal protective equipment including respirators and face shields. Workers are supplied with disposable Tyvec coveralls to protect them from the spray material. The total startup cost was about $40,000.

Excel Concrete also put its tank inside a box truck. "The product has to be heated before it's sprayed by running hoses off the radiator system," notes Greemann. "Once the truck is running, the product is being heated. There are gauges to control the temperature, and when they get to 100 degrees you're ready to start spraying. The engine on the spray unit circulates the product and will keep it warm enough while completing the job." It cost his company $30,000 to get into waterproofing.