The common types
- Bitumen coating or sheet: black, used mostly on roofs.
- Cementitious coating: a cement-based paint-on layer, used on walls, tanks and basements.
- PU (polyurethane) coating: a flexible liquid layer, used on roofs and terraces.
- Membrane sheet: a rolled sheet joined on the roof.
- Crystalline waterproofing: works inside the concrete, used on basements and tanks.
How to choose
- Choose by the place: a sunny roof, a drinking water tank and a basement wall are three different jobs.
- For a drinking water tank, the product must be made for drinking water tanks.
- Ask for the product name and the maker, and have it written in the estimate.
- Ask how many coats or layers, and how the surface will be prepared first.
- A good surface preparation matters as much as the material.
There is no single best coating
The right choice depends on the surface, the weather, the place and the budget. A mistri who names one product for every job without looking at the place is not giving you advice. Let him see the place first.