Waterproofing

The Spring Street Building on the campus of the University of Georgia was renovated in 2021 to reopen as UGA’s Innovation Hub. The building supports entrepreneurship, experiential learning and industry engagement as part of the university’s Innovation District focused on “the knowledge-based economy”.

Soil was excavated and a new below-grade foundation wall was constructed against the existing brick foundation for application of new waterproofing materials.

Liquid applied waterproofing membrane is installed to a film thickness of 120 dry mils. Detail work is done with a trowel into interior and exterior corners. Protection course and a drainage mat are installed over the completed membrane system.

Roller-applied liquid membrane is installed at the specified 120 mil thickness. Repair of cracks and detailing at moving joints and other special conditions requires application of reinforcing fabric.

Additional flashing at penetrations and change of plane conditions is required prior to completing the waterproofing membrane and installing protection course and drainage mat.

Application of the liquid waterproofing membrane system is substantially complete. Protection course and drainage mat are to be installed. Final detailing at the top termination of the waterproofing and tie-in with the existing cladding system will be performed to integrate the below-grade and above-grade portions of the walls.

The main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

An exterior wall constructed of stacked stone had been undergoing water leakage for an extended period of time. Merik used a spray rack, non-destructive moisture meter and infrared camera to test the wall for water entry.

Infrared camera provides an initial indication that water entry to the interior CMU block wall is underway.

Efflorescence (white) stains from previous leakage is visible on the interior surfaces of the CMU wall. Visible water on the interior wall was observed 20 minutes into the testing.

The exterior stone was removed to expose the damp-proofing treatments on the CMU wall.

A two-coat application of liquid applied waterproofing membrane was installed over the existing CMU wall with the existing wall ties left in place. The coating was inspected, and deficiencies were corrected before the work progressed.

New cavity drainage media was installed over the CMU and waterproofing to create an uninterrupted water drainage plane behind the stone veneer.