Life on the info superhighway
The Hindu : Living with an ugly wet patch on the ceiling is a problem that will rob most families of their peace of mind. Especially if the patch keeps expanding.
In most cases, the water accumulating in the bathroom on the upper floor or the rain-washed terrace is likely to be the source of the leak. If only the builders had taken the trouble to use water-proofing compounds during construction.
Broadly categorised as construction chemicals, joint sealants and waterproofing compounds are flexible jointing materials that act as a seal or fill a gap between two elements to accommodate future movement due to expansion. They have gained widespread acceptance among builders for use on concrete, masonry surfaces. Several types of sealants and water-proofing compounds are available in the market today.
While polysulphide sealants are recommended for structural expansion joints in most civil engineering structures, such as building superstructure, subways, basements, floors and reservoirs, fuel-resistant pitch polyurethane sealants are used to seal joints on concrete roads, runways, oil terminals, parking bays and cargo areas where fuel and oil spillage are common.
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