Humid climate, salinity, heavy monsoons, all call for waterproofing, a much sought after service in GoaBharati Pawaskar / The Goan 08 June 2013When it rains, it rains cats and dogs in Goa and apart from flooding the roads, gutters and nullas, it pours in through ceilings and rooftops. It’s the monsoon story in the state and thanks to the heavenly blessings from the rain Gods above, the waterproofing industry under the Goan sky is flourishing.The hoardings all over the state Highway NH-17 cry aloud –‘Ghar mei paani ko ghusne na dena’ and ask to call Dr Fixit in case of emergencies. Yes, Dr Fixit waterproofing products are popular among waterproofing contractors who undertake waterproofing assignments for housing, commercial and industrial structures. These include waterproofing of basement, sunken slabs of bathroom and toilets, terrace and other structures in need of waterproofing.“We go for certified vendors who process the products in accordance with the international quality standards, longer shelf life, accurate PH value and purity. We test them on various parameters like accurate composition and effective result before offering them to our customers,” says a distributor in Panjim who keeps waterproofing products of various companies.The deteriorating quality of construction as well as the natural causes like humidity, high water table and salty, saline air especially in the coastal belt, are to be blamed for the growing need of waterproofing. The quality of construction material – sand, mettle, granite, laterite stones and bricks has also deteriorated which reflects in poor construction. Haste is another factor. If the pace of construction is too fast it gives little time for curing which gives rise to the need for waterproofing in a short period of time. The leakage begins with the first rain showers in some cases. Post construction maintenance is equally important.There are specialised services and treatments for the roof, side wall, bath, expansion joint, vertical expansion joint and water tank coating, basement, injection grouting and swimming pool. “If the waterproofing problems are not attended in time, the structure poses various dangers; one of it is of short circuit. The concealed electricity wiring in the walls may spark if the seeped water comes in contact with live wires,” warns Damodar Yeshwant Dicholkar, proprietor Yeshwant Interiors in Margao who has diversified into waterproofing a decade ago and caters to clients in Goa as well as Mumbai.“Most buildings in Goa need waterproofing, irrespective of when they were constructed. We have come across cases where the leakage begins the very next year after construction. In some, the leakages show up immediately after taking possession,” discloses Dicholkar who is on the panel of SIKA India Pvt Ltd that manufactures waterproofing products at Verna Industrial Estate. ACC runs a helpline for its consumers providing the list of cement dealers and reliable waterproofing contractors like Dicholkar who offers all kinds of services like interiors, exteriors, restorations, renovations and waterproofing – for new as well as old constructions. There is a stiff competition in the construction and interior decoration business but a lot of scope in waterproofing exists as this area remains untouched. Across Goa there are handful contractors known for their quality work. They offer specialised services and treatments for the roof, side wall, bath, expansion joint, vertical expansion joint and water tank coating, basement, injection grouting and swimming pools. The cost of waterproofing depends on the intensity of leakage and site condition. A century-old Portuguese house will leak only if the tiles above break as their side walls are usually strong and thick. The reasons why a structure falls apart could be more than one. There is no proper curing. Traditional way of constructing is still continued which leaves lot of scope for leakage. While casting a slab on an old property, the use of proper waterproofing additives will minimise the capillary action. Use of additives and cohesive for both slab as well as exterior plasters can reduce the possibility of leakage. If the dressing of the laterite stones is not proper, it results in uneven levels and wherever there is thick plaster, the chances are more that it would leak. The use of quality sand is a must too.Five years ago good sand was available for Rs 430 per cubic metre. The same is now quoted Rs 1700 per cubic metre. The labour was Rs 250-300 which now costs Rs 500-600 per day. The cost of the material counts along with the construction rate and reflects in the final price of the property. While reputed real estate developers use quality material and take care to do the waterproofing themselves, those who have turned builder overnight want to erect at a cheaper rate and at a faster pace.“My builder overlooked the need for waterproofing while constructing our building and left consumers like us to pay for the after work from our own pockets,” complained Vidya Kerkar who had to spend over a lakh on waterproofing before selling off her flat at Madel in Margo. There is no dearth of waterproofing jobs across the state which could be the reason why the graph of waterproofing industry in Goa is ever mounting.
