Water is the cause of many operational and structural building failures and can have major impact on the building structural strength. Water can cause huge damage to surfaces by creating a harmful environment, resulting in permanent structural damage. For ages, we humans have been trying to control the flow of water and ensure that it does not impact our structures. We all know that gravity can turn the flow of water, mostly southwards, but it is interesting to know that water can move in the sideways and can also move into cracks, due to capillary action.
Water can easily align itself to surfaces and move in a horizontal direction. It has the capacity to push into walls and push buildings once it freezes into solid form, not to mentions the expansion and contraction of soil that it causes. When a specialist company providing waterproofing solutions starts investigations for a water issue, it has to consider the physics behind the movement of water and employ the use of modern tools to find its path. They have to understand the movement of water and the effect of various construction techniques and building materials.
Here are the seven facts related to the physics of water movement and a building structure:
1. Gravity pulls water and makes it flow towards the ground.
2. Suction or wind can also push water in the upward direction or even sideways to help it come out through any kind of opening.
3. Water molecules are attracted towards each other due to cohesion and is the force that supports in forming water droplets.
4. Due to adhesion, water is attracted to materials it flows on and due to this, water can “climb” horizontal and vertical surfaces.
5. The cohesion of water molecules makes the surface stretch like a tight film and this is strong enough to help a tiny insect or a needle stay afloat without sinking.
6. Capillary action is related to adhesion too, and through this, water can easily climb through a tiny tube as the water molecules can stick to each other and reach the top.
7. It is this same capillary action that helps water to move through cracks and porous water materials. Due to capillary action, water can move sideways and reach hidden areas without a hassle.
While carrying out Terrace Waterproofing, all the above mentioned facts should be kept in mind in order to reach a satisfying and long-lasting solution to all kinds of leakage problems.
