for Cold Climate Housing and much more

Found 38 results for the keyword ‘Waterproof’

  • Weather Restrictions: Plastic Cement / cold applied Roof Patch

    Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:   Category: Roofing     Product: Plastic Cement / cold applied Roof Patch Temperature Limitations: Varies by product: Use above -5 C (+23 F) to above freezing Rain Limitations: Varies by product: dry to underw...
  • Should I seal my brick wall with Silicone to protect the house from water?

    Hilda has a century-old house and is repointing the bricks. She wants to know if it is wise to seal the wall with Silicone to prevent water from getting in. The answer is -- no. Brick is designed to shed water, absorbing a bit, but drying out quickly as soon as the rain stops. In addition the a...
  • What is a Rain Screen Wall?

    One of the most reliable ways of both keeping our walls dry, and allowing them to dry out if they do get wet, is to construct the wall with an outer shell that we call a rain screen. Rather than trying to make the siding on the house absolutely waterproof, which never works for a very long tim...
  • Pro: Tiles -- More than you thought you wanted to know

    Probably one of the best ways to learn about good and bad building techniques is to work on the renovation or restoration side of the construction picture. Here is where you see the results of everything done before, especially when the results are a failed system. In the world of ceramic, stone ...
  • Working with Contact Cement

    Contact cement is a uniquely useful adhesive. It will adhere to most all surfaces and hence is often the in-between for sticking two different materials together. It comes in two basic varieties, solvent based and water based, the later often being called "green" or "solvent free". Although thes...
  • Basement Perimeter Drainage and Leaking Foundations

    This article deals with walls below grade, foundation walls.  For insulating above grade cinder block walls see How do you Insulate a Brick and Block construction as well as Insulating an Above Grade Block Wall from the Inside. The best way to prevent water from leaking into the basement is not ...
  • Weather Restrictions: Epoxy -- "Wet-Bond"

    Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:   Category: Adhesives     Product: Epoxy - Wet-Bond Temperature Limitations: Above +10 C (+50 F) -- although a special product called "Cold-Bond" will work at -6 C (+21 F) Rain Limitations: Can be applied in r...
  • Fixing small cracks in a foundation wall.

    Randy in Winnipeg has found small cracks in a foundation wall and wants to know how to fix them. Right up front I want to make the statement that it is often not worth the bother to fix a small crack in a foundation wall that is not moving -- especially if no water is coming in.  The best way to...
  • HOW CAN I STOP CONDENSATION ON THE BASEMENT WALL BEHIND INSULATION?

    First ensure that this is not a leak in the basement wall. Click here for details on Waterproofing a basement wall. Second ensure that the wall is well sealed, especially around electrical outlets and floor and wall joints. Click here for details on Air Sealing. Finally, make sure there is no a...
  • Improper power washing can damage the inside of your walls

      More and more people have domestic power washers, allowing them to quickly clean all kinds of things around the house. Of course one of the first things we want to use it for is to clean off the siding on the house. CAUTION -- you all know that you need to be careful not to damage wood or spra...