What is a podium deck – for starters?
Rooftop and podium concrete decks are used for car parks, equipment plants, and similar situations. Typically, they are exposed to all extremes of the weather. And although concrete is inherently durable, leaving it unprotected invites premature deterioration.
Holistic Approach
As we’ve mentioned elsewhere, the culprit for premature deterioration is moisture. As water and moisture vapour enter the concrete, it carries contaminants in solution, which react with the concrete and the reinforcing steel.
Coating or painting the deck is not enough for proper protection. Coatings abrade over time and need periodical reapplication. Furthermore, coatings cannot prevent moisture from moving between abutting structural elements.
Permanent Protection
What about a deep penetrating treatment that remains in the concrete permanently? MARKHAM genuine non-crystalline hydrogel treatment reacts with free lime and moisture in the slab to induce a C-S-H hydrogel within the concrete’s porosity, to a depth of 150mm. This protection permanently prevents ingress or movement of moisture, and never needs reapplication!
And let’s go back a step earlier in the construction process. MARKHAM’s 3-part approach gives total confidence by ensuring the slab is waterproofed right through.
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A Case Study
An excellent example of this approach is the Silverdale Centre car park, in Auckland NZ (pictured). Lightweight construction methods were used, leading to rolling loads that caused the concrete to flex much more than in traditional methods. MARKHAM’s waterproofing system was chosen and ensures robust waterproofing for the structure.
Benefits for Both the Construction Team and the Asset Owner!
- Ultimate internal waterproofing
- Permanently eliminate moisture migration
- Waterproof stable, non-moving cracks up to 0.5mm
- Reduces shrinkage
- Protects the reinforcing steel
- Compatible with all paints, membranes or coatings designed for bare concrete
Contact the friendly team at MARKHAM about your specific project!
One last thing! Hydrogel treatments are also valuable for protecting existing structures.
Deterioration can often be arrested, and service life preserved.
If your structure is already built, we can still help!
For more about waterproofing for durability, try our on-demand webinar, “Concrete – Waterproofing – Durability“.
Banner photo by Jonathan Daniels on Unsplash
