The Cost of Failure

Waterproofing failures can have serious consequences to your project and your activities.

When Waterproofing Fails, the Costs Stack Up Quickly

Water ingress causes damages that remain hidden for months. And when you start noticing it, it is often too late.

Water can infiltrate multiple layers, reach structural elements, or compromise sensitive equipment long before any visible signs appear.

Interior Mold Damage
Structural issues

By the time a leak is noticed, repairs are already complex, costly, and time-consuming.

Consequences of water damages:

  • Structural issues for your building
  • Health issues for its occupants
  • Financial costs for stakeholders

When Prevention Is Missing, the Fallout Begins

Consequences of Water Ingress Can Be Severe:

Yet traditional inspection methods — such as visual checks or flood testing — rarely detect early-stage breaches in time to prevent damage.

  • Structural degradation

    Weakening of roof assemblies, corrosion, and reduced building lifespan

  • Financial impact

    Operational interruptions, unplanned repairs, insurance disputes, and legal claims

  • Energy inefficiency

    Higher heating and cooling costs from poor insulation and airflow

  • Health risks

    Mold growth and poor indoor air quality affecting occupants’ wellbeing

Yet traditional inspection methods — such as visual checks or flood testing — rarely detect early-stage breaches in time to prevent damage.

Common Causes Of Waterproofing Failure

Waterproofing failures are usually the result of several factors — often combined — each carrying the potential for significant consequences.

Design Deficiencies

Inadequate detailing, insufficient slope, or incompatible system components can compromise long-term waterproofing performance from the start.

Poor Installation

Improper workmanship, lack of quality control can lead to undetected vulnerabilities. Even a small seam defect can lead to signficant damage.

Damage by Other Trades

Subsequent works, including installation of HVAC units, solar panels, or railings, often result in accidental punctures or membrane disruption.

Material Degradation

Weather exposure, UV radiation, and ongoing site activity can lead to aging, embrittlement, or mechanical damage of the waterproofing membrane over time.

Understanding these causes is essential for effective Leak Prevention and long-term system performance
You can’t fix what you can’t find, and leaks are notoriously good at hiding. Far too many systems rely on hope rather than proof.
Laura

Project Manager, Automotive OU

Most Leaks Stay Hidden Until It’s Too Late

By the time a leak becomes visible, water may have already spread through insulation, structural layers, or even electrical systems.

Signs like mold or stained ceilings typically appear only after significant damage has occurred.

Without proactive inspection methods, most leaks remain undetected — until repairs become urgent, invasive, and expensive.

Roof damage

Traditional Leak Detection Methods Fall Short

Most construction sites rely on flood testing to assess waterproofing integrity — usually performed once, after membrane installation and before other trades begin — and on visual inspections for surface checks afterwards.

But these methods have clear limitations:
They often miss small or hidden breaches, can’t be repeated over time, and offer no way to confirm actual performance.
Roof damage
As a result, early damage often goes undetected… Only to appear months or years later, when repairs are far more disruptive and costly.

Take Control Before Leaks Strike

If you’re looking to reduce risk, avoid hidden damage, and maintain full visibility over your waterproofing system, now is the time to act. Controlit enables proactive, repeatable Leak Prevention — so you can verify integrity at every stage, not just once.

Don’t wait for a leak to expose the problem. Make your waterproofing system testable from day one

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