If waterproofing fails early, the root cause is often not the membrane or coating — it’s the base beneath it. Poor falls, drummy toppings, laitance, contamination, shrinkage cracking, and rushed curing are the usual culprits.
PCR’s approach is simple: get the substrate right first so the waterproofing system has a fair chance of lasting.
We typically deliver this service where falls and preparation are critical:
- podiums, planters and trafficable decks
- balconies and external thresholds
- basements and plant rooms
- wet areas and service yards
- areas with recurring ponding or repeat waterproofing failures
✅ Our Screed & Prep Packages Typically Include:
Assessment & set-out
- Levels survey and identification of ponding / reverse falls (“birdbaths”)
- Confirm required falls, outlets, thresholds and termination heights
- Identify risks: movement joints, cracking zones, weak toppings, contamination
Removal & mechanical preparation
- Grinding/scarifying to remove laitance, weak layers and contaminants
- Removal of drummy/failed screeds and coatings where required
- Substrate profiling to suit the intended waterproofing system
Defect repair before screeding
- Repair of spalls, honeycombing, cracks and edge breakdown
- Treatment of construction joints and movement interfaces (often coordinated with joint detailing)
Screed installation (performance-led)
- Installation of bonded screeds where adhesion and build-up control are critical
- Formation of falls to outlets and drains (not “flat and hope”)
- Edge detailing, arrises, rebates and upstands as required for the waterproofing build-up
- Practical sequencing around penetrations, plinths and equipment bases
Curing, protection & readiness
- Curing/protection to reduce shrinkage cracking and debonding
- Surface condition checks prior to waterproofing (soundness, profile, cleanliness)
- Handover-ready substrate for waterproofing installation
🏗 Typical Applications
- Podiums, decks and planter zones (falls + waterproofing readiness)
- Balconies and thresholds (tight heights, drainage logic)
- Basements and plant rooms (durable prep for internal waterproofing systems)
- Service yards and ramps (durability + drainage performance)
- Remedial works where previous waterproofing failed due to poor substrate/falls
🛠 Common Problems We Fix
- Ponding water (“birdbaths”) that destroys membranes and coatings
- Reverse falls and poor drainage alignment to outlets
- Drummy/poorly bonded screeds that delaminate under waterproofing
- Laitance and contamination that causes debonding and pinholing
- Shrinkage cracking through toppings due to poor curing / rushed sequencing
- Failed patch repairs at penetrations and plinth bases that become leak starters
📌 Why Choose PCR?
- We treat screeds as part of the waterproofing system, not a standalone trade
- Strong understanding of how falls, terminations and joints actually fail in the real world
- Practical sequencing around penetrations and details (where most issues start)
- We won’t “level over problems” — we prep and repair properly first
- ISO-backed QA habits for consistent, repeatable outcomes
