This is a question that I have often heard, especially from those who have turned to us to solve the waterproofing problems.
The answer that many of them had was: “Yes, they told me that it applies everywhere, I even saw a video on YouTube where they spray it directly on the water !!“.
Unfortunately, the last statement corresponds to the truth, in the sense that I also saw the elusive video and in fact I wondered how it is possible (and what sense it makes) to spread such absurdities.
Leaving aside this amazement, to call it that, we come to the point. The question is: “Is polyurea suitable for any type of surface and can it be applied anywhere?“
Having to give a dry answer, it would be “IT DEPENDS !!”.
Undoubtedly polyurea and in general polyurethane and / or polyureic membranes are very versatile, and adapt very well to any type of surface.
We have now applied it with full success, on old sheath surfaces, both bituminous and slated, on sheet metal roofs, on old PVC roofs, on concrete flooring, both drive-over and simply walkable, inside the reinforced concrete tanks for the containment of drinking water, purification waste, white or black, on metal surfaces of augers and high wear mechanical systems.
I said “IT DEPENDS” because the problem is NOT applying polyurea on one of those surfaces, but:
1) analyze the “status quo” of the mantle;
2) design the correct application solution that provides for the correct way of preparing the surface so that the polyurea performs its function perfectly and lasts over time;
3) apply ALL the package in a workmanlike manner, so that it is effective for the purpose and long-lasting.
The spray application of polyurea, my opinion, is the simplest part of the whole job; making sure that it adheres well to the substrate, which performs its protective and waterproofing functions, which lasts over time, whether it is suitable for vehicles or for foot traffic, is the real challenge of any intervention.
For example, apply polyurea on a driveway in reinforced concrete, without having at least checked;
1) stratigraphy of the flooring structure;
2) geometry and distribution of the structure;
3) analysis of the loads acting on it;
4) the existence and type of structural and seismic joints;
5) characteristics of the existing flooring, i.e. thickness, presence and distribution of reinforcement, compressive strength, tear resistance, surface and depth humidity, presence or absence of waterproofing under the floor, etc. etc.
just to name a few (the list is generic and obviously not exhaustive), it would mean knocking it down considering it as a kind of “panacea that solves all ills”.
This is absolutely not the case. Polyurea is an excellent waterproofing system, but, like all waterproofing systems, IT MUST BE STUDIED and DESIGNED carefully, and then applied with criteria and maximum rigor. With these assumptions, the answer to the initial question could be “YES”, but only with these assumptions.
We do this, we try not to leave anything to chance, never, neither in the preventive analysis phase, nor in the design phase, nor in the application phase.
Good job!