Nic Breezy, Author at CT Water

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How do I know roof leak or precipitation

July 26 2022

The difference between a leak and precipitation

Winter is in full swing in Cape Town. And with Rainy Days and Cold Front upon us. Roof Leaks are something to be prepared for as we go further into the season. However as the calls have started to rush in, our team have often found when arriving for an inspection. (That is no obligation and comes with a free quote). That the roof leak is actually condensation that has built up overnight due to the cold.

This is why our team have put together an article to help you understand the difference between a Leak & Precipitation.

What is the difference between a leak & precipitation?

One of the easiest ways to identify, if you have a leak or if you are experiencing condensation is to look at the stain that has formed on your ceiling.

How to Identify Condensation

Condensation is formed when warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface and releases excess moisture from the surface. As warm air rises, it can make contact with the ceiling. If colder can create the impression of it being a roof leak. Especially after a period of rain, and the sun’s rays beat down onto the roof sheets. It can also be caused due to the underlays in the roof that has deteriorated over time.

Condensation can often be found in Kitchens, bathrooms, Window Cavities, Light Cavities or any area where moisture is found in the home.

The stain caused by condensation can often appear to be blotchy where the water droplets have formed on the surface.

How to Identify a Leak

Like Condensation, leaks produce stains that appear on the ceiling. However, the difference between them depends on the spot where the leak occurs. Leaks can occur where condensation is not prone to form.

If it is a leak, water stains and dripping will often appear on the ceiling or walls, where the water has penetrated through the roof, or wall cavities

When our Inspectors, are identifying the leak, they will often inspect the surrounding of the room and the source of the leak in order to determine whether it is a roof Leak or Condensation.

Roof Leaks can be caused by a number of different factors. such as broken or cracked tiles, cracks in the existing waterproofing applications, or cracks and gaps in the flashings or parapet walls.

How to fix the problem?

To the untrained eye, there is not always an instant solution, as you would have to first identify if the problem is a leak or condensation. Once you have established this, you will need to find the cause or area of the problem.

Once the source has been discovered, the correct method can be applied. As there are many factors involved in this assessment, it could end up being an expensive and lengthy exercise without a solution being found.

We do recommend that if you do see a water stain forming on your ceiling, to phone a refutable and trustworthy Waterproofing Company to assist you in not only identifying the cause of the leak but also to create an effective solution to the issue.

Specialists in Waterproofing, Roof And Damp-Proofing Cape Town

CT-Water has been in the Waterproofing, Damp-Proofing, Roofing and Water Harvesting industry for over 30 years. With access to some of the biggest and most effective products on the market as well as a team of highly-trained and professional waterproofers and damp-proofers, you can know that Contacting CT-Water is one of the best decisions that you can make.

For any Waterproofing, Dampproofing, Roofing, Water Harvesting and Water Filtration Issues and questions, feel free to contact us by either email, phone, or fill out the form and we will call you back.

CT- Water provides no obligation free quotes and inspections for all Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, Winelands, Boland, West Coast and CBD areas.

April 4 2022

Should I use an Off-the-shelf or a Specialised Waterproofing Product?

Nic Breezy Waterproofing

Locally and Imported Manufactured Waterproofing Products that are available in the South African Market 2022

During the last three decades, we have noticed new waterproofing products that have been introduced and marketed in our country, particularly the products aimed at the DIY homeowner, where an individual can go into any hardware shop and purchase a do-it-yourself waterproofing product.

In our opinion, this is not a bad thing, due to the fact that it should reduce the cost of the available products in South Africa. However, doing research and visiting several Hardware Supply Stores in our region, I found many of these new products being sold at a higher price than the products that we use. The higher price could be the result of the expensive and attractive packaging.

Over the many years of being in the waterproofing business, we have noted the changes in the local and global weather patterns, and it is critically important to understand when planning to repair a leak, besides knowing how to find the source of the leak, you have to understand the weather conditions, to apply the correct waterproofing to ensure a trouble-free and long term repair. For example in the Cape Town area, when there are so many diverse wind patterns, e.g a Black South Easter, winter North Westers and occasionally the Berg winds blow, the correct type of waterproofing product needs to be applied.

For instance, when waterproofing flashings (normally the gap between brick parapet walls and IBR roof sheeting, or similar metal roof sheeting} we would use Torch-on product i.e., the heat fused burn-on method, or membrane with an Advanced Coating to seal the gap. However, if the parapet wall and the metal roof sheeting face the North Westerly wind direction, often the winter wind blows the rain under the metal profile of the sheeting and this waterfalls down the internal walls and can be easily seen in the room or garage.

To overcome these leaks, we close the open profile with the same waterproofing products I have mentioned in the paragraph above. This is a time-consuming procedure and needs to be costed in when the budget is being estimated, however it is well worth it in the long run, due to the fact that if the waterproofing product is maintained over time, the life span can extend to twenty to thirty years.

If you are unsure of the solution to repair your waterproofing, Cape Town Waterproofing Team is skilled at assessing your waterproofing requirements and is happy to provide a free no-obligation quotation.

Specialists in Waterproofing And Damp-Proofing Cape Town

CT-Water has been in the Waterproofing, Damp-Proofing and Water Harvesting industry for over 30 years, with access to some of the biggest and most effective products on the market as well as a team of highly-trained and professional waterproofers and damp-proofers, you can know that Contacting CT-Water is one of the best decisions that you can make.