Search

Waterproofing Warranties: Can You Be Sure Nothing Is Going To Leak Through?

26 May 2015

Lawrence Kim

Having waterproofing installed in your new bathroom or other wet area can be expensive, but it could cost you a lot more if it all goes wrong. When contracting a waterproofer, be sure to ask about their waterproofing warranty to find out what is and isn't covered. Use this guide as a starting point for knowing exactly what should be covered under warranty, and what to look out for.

Length of warranty

The length of warranty is often as long as the product manufacturer can guarantee their waterproofing product. If the waterproofing membranes are guaranteed to work for 10 years by the manufacturer, the warranty will often state this as the warranty period. As 10 years is a decent amount of time for a warranty, many waterproofers will also guarantee their workmanship for this amount of time too, but clarify this with your hired tradesman to be sure to distinguish between warranty periods for workmanship and product.

What are normal use conditions?

Warranties often state that they warrant against failure under conditions of normal use. What does normal use mean, exactly? Normal use means you will use the area for it's intended purpose, and not subject it to extreme temperatures or other conditions that might impact the effectiveness of the product. Normal use is really just common sense, but sometimes there are grey areas about what could be considered normal. For example, taking a shower everyday is normal use, but what about taking a shower when there is a cracked tile in the shower? A cracked tile may also indicate damage to the waterproofing membranes, and water may penetrate beneath the surface and cause further damage. This may not be covered by the waterproofing warranty, as the damage occurred by negligence of the owner.

What happens in the event of a fault?

Go over your waterproofing warranty and find out what would happen in the case of a fault with the waterproofing. Will the tradesman come back and repair the waterproofing, free of charge? What about the tiles on top of the waterproofing; will you be liable to pay for them to be tiled again? You should also look into what exactly the product warranty covers; will the manufacturer cover the costs of workmanship as well? It may be unlikely that a fault will occur, but it is always possible, and it is best to be prepared before it happens. Being prepared can save you from a lot of hassle and confusion in the event of a waterproofing discrepancy.

For more information about waterproofing and the warranties it may have, contact a local waterproofing company like Smithy's Contracting Pty Ltd.

Share